Phonological disorder

This code represents a developmental speech sound disorder characterized by persistent difficulties with the organization and production of speech sounds, leading to unintelligible speech. Individuals with this disorder struggle with the rules governing sound patterns in a language, affecting their ability to form words correctly.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a primary diagnosis of a developmental phonological disorder, where the child consistently substitutes, omits, or distorts speech sounds according to a pattern. This diagnosis is typically made by a speech-language pathologist based on formal assessment and clinical observation.

• Differentiate from articulation disorders, which involve motor production of sounds without a pattern-based error.
• Carefully review documentation to rule out underlying neurological conditions (e.g., apraxia) or hearing loss as the primary cause.
• Be mindful of the Excludes1 and Excludes2 notes to avoid incorrect co-coding or misclassification.