Aphasia following cerebral infarction

This code signifies a language disorder characterized by impaired comprehension or expression of speech, reading, or writing, which occurs as a direct sequela of a cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke). The aphasia can manifest in various forms, such as Broca's, Wernicke's, global, or anomic aphasia, depending on the affected brain region.

Assign this code when a patient presents with aphasia explicitly documented as a residual effect of a prior ischemic stroke. Documentation should clearly link the aphasia to the cerebral infarction, often indicating it as a chronic or persistent neurological deficit. This code is appropriate for both acute and chronic care settings when managing the long-term effects of stroke.

• Ensure documentation specifies "cerebral infarction" as the cause, not hemorrhage or unspecified stroke.
• Do not use this code for transient aphasia or aphasia due to active stroke (use acute stroke codes).
• Sequence this code after the appropriate code for the cerebral infarction if the stroke is still being treated, or as a primary diagnosis if the aphasia is the primary reason for the encounter.