ICD-10 Code H74.3 – Other acquired abnormalities of ear ossicles (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H74.3 – Other acquired abnormalities of ear ossicles
What it is
H74.3 identifies acquired structural abnormalities of the middle-ear ossicles, the tiny bones that transmit sound. Use it when documentation describes an abnormality that developed after birth and is not better classified elsewhere.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly, records note conductive hearing loss, abnormal tympanic membrane findings, or imaging or operative evidence of ossicular damage, fixation, or discontinuity.
When to use this code
Use H74.3 when the provider documents an acquired abnormality of the ear ossicles and does not specify a more exact diagnosis. It may appear in otology, audiology, or surgical notes describing post-inflammatory, traumatic, or postoperative ossicular change. Check documentation if the cause or laterality is unclear.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for congenital ossicular anomalies or for hearing loss alone without a documented ossicular abnormality. If the record identifies a different middle-ear disorder, code that condition instead.
Coding tip
Confirm that the abnormality is acquired and specifically involves the ossicles before assigning H74.3.