H91.20 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, unspecified ear

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Applies from H91 Other and unspecified hearing loss

Excludes1 (never code together)

• abnormal auditory perception (H93.2-)
• hearing loss as classified in H90.-
• impacted cerumen (H61.2-)
• noise-induced hearing loss (H83.3-)
• psychogenic deafness (F44.6)
• transient ischemic deafness (H93.01-)

Applies from H91.2 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss

Applicable to

• Sudden hearing loss NOS

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 154-156 in MDC 03.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 388.2 Sudden hearing loss, unspecified (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to H91.20

Back-references to H91.2

• Type 1 Excludes: H90 Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss ("sudden (idiopathic) hearing loss (H91.2-)")

Back-references to H91

• Code Also: F80.4 Speech and language development delay due to hearing loss ("type of hearing loss (H90.-, H91.-)")

Nearby codes

• H91.10 Presbycusis, unspecified ear
• H91.11 Presbycusis, right ear
• H91.12 Presbycusis, left ear
• H91.13 Presbycusis, bilateral
• H91.2 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss
• H91.20 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, unspecified ear (this code)
• H91.21 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, right ear
• H91.22 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, left ear
• H91.23 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, bilateral
• H91.3 Deaf nonspeaking, not elsewhere classified
• H91.8 Other specified hearing loss