Family history of deafness and hearing loss

This code indicates a patient has a family history of deafness or hearing loss, meaning one or more blood relatives have been diagnosed with this condition. It signifies a genetic predisposition or increased risk for the patient to develop similar auditory impairments. This history is relevant for risk assessment and preventative care.

This code is appropriate when a patient reports a family history of hearing loss during a medical encounter, even if the patient currently has normal hearing. It should be used to document a genetic or familial risk factor for auditory conditions. This code is often used in conjunction with codes for the patient's current hearing status or for screening encounters.

• Do not use this code if the patient themselves has a current diagnosis of hearing loss; instead, code the specific type and severity of the patient's hearing loss.
• This code is for family history only and does not indicate the patient currently has the condition.
• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "family history" to support the use of this code.