H90.5 Unspecified sensorineural hearing loss

ICD-10-CM H90.5: Unspecified Sensorineural Hearing Loss

ICD-10-CM code H90.5 designates an unspecified sensorineural hearing loss, a condition affecting individuals across all age groups. Clinical evaluations may involve tuning fork tests to localize the impairment. The code is categorized under conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, distinct from bilateral or unilateral sensorineural codes that specify laterality. 1 3 4

Plain-language overview

Hearing loss is a health concern affecting people of all ages, and Weber's and Rinne's tests using a 512 Hz tuning fork can help localize the impairment to indicate either a conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. 1

What this code represents

ICD-10-CM code H90.5 represents sensorineural hearing loss that is unspecified, distinguishing it from other specific codes in the same category like H90.3 for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. 3 4

The H90 code category encompasses both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and H90.5 is grouped alongside mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss codes such as H90.8. 3 4

Coding details

Code H90.5 for unspecified sensorineural hearing loss is listed alongside more specific unilateral codes, such as H90.41 for the right ear and H90.42 for the left ear, which explicitly define laterality. 3 4

Documentation considerations

Clinical assessment of hearing loss involves identifying risk factors that encompass heredity, exposure to loud noise, head trauma, a history of ear infections, and certain chronic health conditions like diabetes. 1

Clinical context

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is usually unilateral, can range from mild to total, and can be temporary or permanent, and a steroid may be considered to treat this condition in adults. 2

An MRI of the internal auditory meati may be considered for adults with sensorineural hearing loss and no localizing signs if there is an asymmetry on pure tone audiometry of 15 dB or more at any two adjacent test frequencies. 2

What the sources add

While the clinical guideline focuses on assessing and managing hearing loss in adults aged over 18, the audiology reference provides the specific ICD-10-CM category structure for differentiating conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. 2 4

The US Preventative Service Task Force has determined that evidence concerning hearing loss screening in adults is inconclusive, with no clear indication that screening leads to improved health outcomes. 1

Sources

1. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
3. Phecode 389 · ExPRSweb — csg.sph.umich.edu; accessed 2026-07-25.
4. 2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes Related to Hearing and ... — asha.org; accessed 2026-07-25.