Find information on phonological disorder diagnosis, including clinical documentation, ICD-10 codes (F80.0), speech sound disorder assessment, and treatment resources. Learn about differential diagnosis of phonological disorder, speech therapy interventions, and common comorbidities. This resource provides guidance for healthcare professionals on accurately documenting and coding phonological disorder in medical records for optimal patient care and reimbursement. Explore evidence-based practices for diagnosing and managing childhood speech sound disorders and articulation difficulties within a healthcare setting.
Also known as
Phonological disorder
Difficulty with speech sound production impacting speech intelligibility.
Specific speech articulation disorder
Problems producing specific speech sounds, like lisps or substitutions.
Other developmental disorders of speech and language
Includes other speech and language difficulties not specified elsewhere.
Other symbolic dysfunctions
May be used if phonological disorder impacts symbolic communication more broadly.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the difficulty with speech sounds due to a known physical or structural anomaly?
Yes
Consider codes relating to the specific structural anomaly (e.g., cleft palate, hearing loss). Phonological disorder may be coded as a secondary diagnosis if clinically significant.
No
Is the primary difficulty related to the organization of speech sounds?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Difficulty with speech sounds |
| Speech sound errors and language impairment |
| Articulation disorder |
Coding Phonological Disorder without specifying severity (mild, moderate, severe) can lead to inaccurate reimbursement and data analysis.
Miscoding Phonological Disorder alongside other speech or language impairments like Apraxia or Expressive Language Disorder can cause claim denials.
Incorrectly applying the diagnosis to a child outside the typical developmental age range can raise red flags for medical necessity reviews.
This patient presents with a phonological disorder characterized by persistent difficulties with speech sound production that interfere with speech intelligibility or prevent verbal communication of messages. Assessment reveals consistent errors in sound production patterns, impacting phonological processes such as fronting, backing, stopping, cluster reduction, and liquid gliding. These speech sound errors are not consistent with the patient's chronological age or developmental level, resulting in functional limitations in communication, impacting social interactions, academic performance, and participation in age-appropriate activities. Differential diagnosis considered articulation disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, and hearing impairment. Hearing screening within normal limits. Oral mechanism examination reveals no structural or functional deficits. The patient's history is significant for negative for any known neurological conditions, genetic syndromes, or developmental delays that could account for the speech sound difficulties. Diagnosis of phonological disorder confirmed based on comprehensive speech sound assessment, including standardized testing, connected speech sample analysis, and stimulability testing. Treatment plan includes individual speech therapy focusing on phonological awareness, improving sound production accuracy, and increasing intelligibility in various communicative contexts. Treatment frequency recommended at twice weekly for 30-minute sessions. Prognosis for improved speech intelligibility is favorable with consistent therapy. ICD-10 code F80.87, Speech and language developmental delay due to unspecified disorder, assigned. CPT codes for evaluation and treatment sessions will be determined based on the specific services provided. Regular progress monitoring will be conducted to assess treatment efficacy and adjust the plan as needed. Parent education and home practice activities are essential components of the treatment plan to support generalization of skills. Collaboration with educational providers may be warranted to address academic and social communication needs.