Dyslexia ICD 10

Dyslexia ICD 10 code F81.0 is used by speech-language pathologists to indicate a specific learning disorder that causes difficulties in an individual’s reading, writing, and spelling abilities, and affects an estimated 20% of the population. Because of the strong link between Dyslexia and speech and language disorders (including developmental language disorder and speech sound disorder), speech therapists have a key role in the treatment of Dyslexia.

According to ASHA, SLPs are encouraged to play an important and collaborative role in literacy development. This is because SLPs possess knowledge about communication processes and disorders, as well as language acquisition. Educating parents and professionals, and addressing the semantic, syntactic, morphological, and phonological aspects of literacy disorders falls under speech therapists’ scope of practice.

According to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, the Developmental Dyslexia ICD 10 code is F81.0. Using the accurate Dyslexia ICD 10 code provides important information about the child’s diagnosis, allowing Speech Therapists to appropriately address reading difficulties in therapy.

When working with a child with this condition, attaching the accurate Dyslexia ICD 10 code to therapy notes and billing documentation helps ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations and reimbursement from payers.

Follow along here for details on the assessment and treatment of Dyslexia. We’ll guide you through how children with Dyslexia can benefit from speech therapy, considerations for therapists, and more.

Definition and classification of Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves difficulty reading words, and occurs as a result of differences in how the brain processes language.

Dyslexia is characterized by decoding difficulties, in which the individual has trouble translating a written word to a spoken word. Phonological processing difficulties can impact a child’s ability to decode a written word.

Dyslexia is associated with difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition and poor spelling. The Dyslexia ICD 10 classifies the condition as a specific learning disorder.

Dyslexia ICD 10 coding

The Dyslexia ICD 10 code is F81.0; Specific reading disorder, with impairment in reading. This includes an impairment in:

• Word reading accuracy
• Reading rate or fluency
• Reading comprehension

Using the appropriate code Dyslexia ICD 10 code of F81.0 provides helpful information about the diagnosis. This allows speech therapists to identify and treat specific areas of difficulty associated with Dyslexia when working with the client.

Speech therapy assessment for Dyslexia

A comprehensive evaluation of an individual’s language and reading skills should be completed in a speech therapy assessment for Dyslexia.

The goal of the evaluation is to identify the underlying difficulties in language and phonological processing that are contributing to a client’s reading impairments.

A battery of standardized tests may be completed within the evaluation, such as the following assessments:

• Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL)
• Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - 5 (CELF-5)
• Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing - 2 (CTOPP-2)
• Gray Oral Reading Test - 5th Edition (GORT-5)
• Oral-Written Language Scale - 2nd Edition (OWLS - 2)

A speech therapy evaluation of Dyslexia may also include a thorough case history review with the parent/caregiver, clinical observation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Speech therapists can gain valuable information from other professionals working with the client, such as a reading specialist, psychologist, and teacher.

Treatment planning and intervention

After completing a thorough assessment, the SLP can develop an individualized treatment plan based on the specific needs of a client with Dyslexia.

Intervention through speech therapy may include:

• Multisensory reading programs. Structured approaches such as Orton-Gillingham teach reading through hands-on activities that engage the senses and focus on phonics.

• Phonological awareness training. The ability to recognize and manipulate sounds is key for learning to read. Activities such as rhyming words and blending sounds can help improve an individual’s phonological awareness skills.

• Reading fluency practice. Repeated reading, guided reading, and working on strategies for decoding unfamiliar words can improve a client’s reading fluency.

SLPs may also target areas of literacy such as reading comprehension by teaching specific strategies and introducing tools like graphic organizers.

Progress monitoring and documentation

Monitoring a client’s progress over time is an important aspect of speech therapy for Dyslexia. A combination of formal and informal assessment measures can be used to track a client’s progress.

Re-administration of standardized scores over time allows the SLP to compare a client’s performance and provides insight into the effectiveness of intervention. Therapists can adjust an individual’s treatment plan as needed to ensure therapy goals and interventions are appropriate and relevant to the client’s needs.

It’s essential to complete documentation of treatment progress to communicate with parents and other professionals, as well as for insurance and reimbursement purposes. Including the Dyslexia ICD 10 code when appropriate can ensure accurate documentation of a client’s areas of difficulty.