ICD-10 Code H74.399 – Other acquired abnormalities of ear ossicles, unspecified ear (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H74.399 – Other acquired abnormalities of ear ossicles, unspecified ear
What it is
This code identifies an acquired, non-congenital abnormality of the middle-ear ossicles when the affected ear is not specified. Use it for structural changes of the ossicular chain that are documented but not otherwise classified.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly, records note conductive hearing loss, abnormal tympanic membrane findings, or imaging/operative evidence of ossicular damage, fixation, or discontinuity.
When to use this code
Use H74.399 when the provider documents an acquired ossicular abnormality and does not identify a more specific ear side or disorder. It is appropriate when the note describes ossicle damage, erosion, or other acquired change without a better code.
Check documentation if the record mentions chronic ear disease, trauma, surgery, or infection-related ossicular change. If the ear is later specified, code to the laterality-specific option instead.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for congenital ear anomalies or for nonspecific hearing loss alone. If the diagnosis is a different middle-ear disorder, choose the more specific documented condition.
Coding tip
Confirm both the acquired nature and the unspecified ear before assigning H74.399.