ICD-10 Code F81 – Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F81 – Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills
What it is
F81 identifies specific developmental disorders that affect learning academic skills such as reading, writing, or arithmetic. Use it when the problem is longstanding and not explained by general intellectual disability or sensory loss.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly, you may see marked difficulty with school skills that is below expected level for age, despite normal opportunity to learn and adequate instruction.
When to use this code
Use F81 when the record documents a specific scholastic learning disorder, such as reading, written expression, or mathematics difficulty. It is appropriate when the clinician describes a developmental learning problem rather than an acquired deficit. Check documentation for the exact subtype if a more specific code is available.
Do not use for
Do not use F81 for learning problems caused by intellectual disability, hearing or vision impairment, or neurologic injury. If the chart does not support a developmental scholastic disorder, check documentation.
Coding tip
Code the most specific learning disorder documented, and confirm whether the provider identified a particular academic domain.