Central auditory processing disorder

This diagnosis code signifies a neurological disorder where the brain has difficulty processing auditory information, even when hearing itself is normal. Individuals with this condition struggle to interpret sounds, understand speech in noisy environments, or follow complex verbal instructions. It is not a hearing loss but rather a problem with how the brain makes sense of what is heard.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of central auditory processing disorder, often following specialized audiological and speech-language pathology evaluations. Supporting documentation should detail the specific auditory processing deficits identified, such as problems with auditory discrimination, temporal processing, or binaural interaction. This code is appropriate for both pediatric and adult populations presenting with these processing challenges.

• Differentiate from hearing loss (H90.-, H91.-); this condition involves normal peripheral hearing.
• Review documentation carefully to ensure the diagnosis is specifically "central auditory processing disorder" and not a general language or learning difficulty.
• Be mindful of the Excludes1 note; do not code concurrently with mixed receptive-expressive language disorder (F80.2).