R94.120 ICD-10-CM Code: Abnormal auditory function study

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for R94.120 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on R94.120 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for R94.120

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code R94.120

1. Check whether an established diagnosis that explains this sign or symptom is documented. If one is, review whether the documented diagnosis changes the coding pathway: a symptom that is integral to a confirmed diagnosis is not reported separately, while one not routinely associated with it may be. Signs and symptoms are reported when no definitive diagnosis is established (Guidelines I.B.4, I.B.5, I.B.6, I.C.18.b).

   Guide: Symptom code vs confirmed diagnosis →

2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with R94.120. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Is an established diagnosis that explains this sign or symptom documented?
   Yes → Review whether the documented diagnosis changes the coding pathway: a symptom integral to it is not reported separately.
   No → Continue — the sign or symptom code stands when no definitive diagnosis is established.
2. Does the documentation support a condition named in R94.120’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewO28

Consider R94.120. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting R94.120(2 notes)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with R94.120: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareO28

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

• Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities, function studies, auditory

Don’t confuse R94.120 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of R94.120 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• O28— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother moves the case to O28; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: R94.120 vs O28 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 4 MS-DRGs: DRG 154 (MDC 03), DRG 155 (MDC 03), DRG 156 (MDC 03), DRG 795 (MDC 15).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):SYM017 — Abnormal findings without diagnosis (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Abnormal findings without diagnosis).

R93.89 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of other specified body structures, R93.9 — Diagnostic imaging inconclusive due to excess body fat of patient, R94.01 — Abnormal electroencephalogram [EEG], R94.02 — Abnormal brain scan, R94.09 — Abnormal results of other function studies of central nervous system, R94.110 — Abnormal electro-oculogram [EOG], R94.111 — Abnormal electroretinogram [ERG], R94.112 — Abnormal visually evoked potential [VEP], R94.113 — Abnormal oculomotor study, R94.118 — Abnormal results of other function studies of eye, R94.121 — Abnormal vestibular function study, R94.128 — Abnormal results of other function studies of ear and other special senses, R94.130 — Abnormal response to nerve stimulation, unspecified, R94.131 — Abnormal electromyogram [EMG], R94.138 — Abnormal results of other function studies of peripheral nervous system, R94.2 — Abnormal results of pulmonary function studies, R94.30 — Abnormal result of cardiovascular function study, unspecified, R94.31 — Abnormal electrocardiogram [ECG] [EKG], R94.39 — Abnormal result of other cardiovascular function study, R94.4 — Abnormal results of kidney function studies, +183 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

R90.81 — Abnormal echoencephalogram (echoencephalogram), R90.89 — Other abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of central nervous system (diagnostic imaging, cerebrovascular NEC), R91.8 — Other nonspecific abnormal finding of lung field (diagnostic imaging, lung), R92.0 — Mammographic microcalcification found on diagnostic imaging of breast (mammogram NEC, microcalcification), R92.1 — Mammographic calcification found on diagnostic imaging of breast (mammogram NEC, calcification), R92.8 — Other abnormal and inconclusive findings on diagnostic imaging of breast (mammogram NEC), R93.0 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of skull and head, not elsewhere classified (diagnostic imaging, head), R93.1 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of heart and coronary circulation (heart, shadow), R93.2 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of liver and biliary tract (scan, liver), R93.3 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of other parts of digestive tract (diagnostic imaging, gastrointestinal), R93.41 — Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging of renal pelvis, ureter, or bladder (diagnostic imaging, ureter), R93.42 — Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging of kidney (diagnostic imaging, kidney), R93.49 — Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging of other urinary organs (diagnostic imaging, urinary organs specified NEC), R93.5 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of other abdominal regions, including retroperitoneum (diagnostic imaging, retroperitoneum), R93.6 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of limbs (diagnostic imaging, limbs), R93.7 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of other parts of musculoskeletal system (diagnostic imaging, musculoskeletal system NEC), R93.81 — Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging of testis (diagnostic imaging, testis), R93.89 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of other specified body structures (thermography), R97.8 — Other abnormal tumor markers (tumor marker NEC), T75.81 — Effects of abnormal gravitation [G] forces (gravitational), +218 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of R94.120 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

• R00-R99 — Chapter 18: Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) (R00-R99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R90-R94 — Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging and in function studies, without diagnosis[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• SYM017 — Abnormal findings without diagnosis[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• DRG 154 — OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 155 — OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH CC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 156 — OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 795 — NORMAL NEWBORN[MS-DRG]: “NORMAL NEWBORN (MDC 15)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 03 — Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 5,147 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026
• MDC 15 — Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period[MDC crossing]: “Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

• Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities, function studies, auditory[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (29)

• R94 — Abnormal results of function studies[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R94.0 — Abnormal results of function studies of central nervous system[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R94.01 — Abnormal electroencephalogram [EEG][Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R94.02 — Abnormal brain scan[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R94.09 — Abnormal results of other function studies of central nervous system[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R94.1 — Abnormal results of function studies of peripheral nervous system and special senses[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R94.11 — Abnormal results of function studies of eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R94.110 — Abnormal electro-oculogram [EOG][Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 21 more

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to R94.120 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• R94.111 — Abnormal electroretinogram [ERG]
• R94.112 — Abnormal visually evoked potential [VEP]
• R94.113 — Abnormal oculomotor study
• R94.118 — Abnormal results of other function studies of eye
• R94.12 — Abnormal results of function studies of ear and other special senses
• R94.121 — Abnormal vestibular function study
• R94.128 — Abnormal results of other function studies of ear and other special senses
• R94.13 — Abnormal results of function studies of peripheral nervous system
• R94.130 — Abnormal response to nerve stimulation, unspecified
• R94.131 — Abnormal electromyogram [EMG]

View all codes in the R94 family