Hearing loss (conductive and sensorineural)
Also known as: Acquired hearing impairment, unspecified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
Hearing disorders make it hard, but not impossible, to hear, whereas deafness can prevent hearing sound at all. One main type of hearing loss is usually permanent and occurs when the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. The other main type occurs when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear due to factors like earwax buildup, fluid, or a punctured eardrum, and this type can often be reversed with treatment or surgery. Possible causes of hearing loss include heredity, diseases, trauma, certain medicines, long-term exposure to loud noise, and aging.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
It's frustrating to be unable to hear well enough to enjoy talking with friends or family. Hearing disorders make it hard, but not impossible, to hear. They can often be helped. Deafness can keep you from hearing sound at all.
What causes hearing loss? Some possibilities are:
- Heredity
- Diseases such as ear infections and meningitis
- Trauma
- Certain medicines
- Long-term exposure to loud noise
- Aging
There are two main types of hearing loss. One happens when your inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This type is usually permanent. The other kind happens when sound waves cannot reach your inner ear. Earwax buildup, fluid, or a punctured eardrum can cause it. Treatment or surgery can often reverse this kind of hearing loss.
Untreated, hearing problems can get worse. If you have trouble hearing, you can get help. Possible treatments include hearing aids, cochlear implants, special training, certain medicines, and surgery.
NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Next to it in ICD-10
- H52Refractive errors (short sight, long sight, astigmatism)
- H54Visual impairment and blindness
- H81Balance disorders of the inner ear (vestibular disorders)
- H91Disorders with hearing impairment, unspecified
- I00Rheumatic fever without heart involvement
- I01Acute rheumatic heart disease, unspecified
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Hearing loss (conductive and sensorineural)?
H90 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Hearing loss (conductive and sensorineural)?
AB51.Z: Acquired hearing impairment, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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Links between terms. "May be associated with" means the link appears in a cited source. It does not mean you have that condition.
In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number). Do not delay seeking medical help because of something you read here.