What is the Sensory Processing Disorder ICD-10 Code?

Published by: Autism Parenting Magazine
Written by: Yolande Loftus

Obtaining reimbursement for the treatment of sensory processing disorder may be tricky when a billable code to specify the diagnosis is a requirement. Certain classification systems may not even recognize the disorder—is the ICD-10-CM the code that legitimizes sensory processing disorder?

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) has an almost ghost-like presence in the medical world. Some doctors—mostly conventional—simply do not believe it is or should ever be a distinct disorder. Others seem almost frightened when parents mention their child’s meltdown triggered by the sound of a hoover.

With a mountain of evidence spelling out how just how severely sensory processing disorder affects children, why is there still so much scepticism? Some believe the exclusion of sensory processing disorder as a separate diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) may be behind some of the doctors’ persistent doubts.

The DSM-5 is used by professionals, mainly in the US, to diagnose mental disorders. The disorder not receiving it’s own listing in this influential manual may have far reaching consequences for treatment and access to appropriate interventions.

But what about international standards and classifications of diseases and health conditions? At first glance The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) seems a little more inclusive of sensory processing conditions.

A diagnostic debate

The ICD-10-CM classification system refers to “Sensory integration disorder” as an “Approximate Synonym” under the F88 code: a billable/specific code that could be utilized to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.

Does this legitimize sensory processing disorders, and does it mean the condition deserves a separate medical diagnosis? Many doctors believe sensory processing issues merely form part of the symptoms of recognized conditions and disorders like autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Doctors along with researchers argue that there is simply not enough proof to confirm the existence of the condition according to scientific standards.

Such arguments do create a bit of a chicken and egg situation: if the condition is not legitimized will expensive clinical studies be funded and undertaken? And without such studies how will SPD ever be deemed worthy of a distinct and official medical diagnosis? Click here to read the rest of the story.

Sensory Eating is not Picky Eating

Published by: Speaking of Autism

I want you to imagine that you are a kid once again, maybe ten or eleven years old. You are sitting down in the evening with your family for dinner. The table is set, and your parents bring out what will be tonight’s entree: a cut of cold, raw chicken breast. It’s slimy pink mass slides onto the plate in front of you, and soon after your whole family is chowing down on the raw cuts of meat. You can’t stand to even watch anyone else eat the raw chicken, let alone fathom yourself choking it down. Yet, despite the very real disgust and aversion you feel towards the raw chicken breast, somehow it’s you who are strange for not wanting to eat it. Maybe you’re called “picky” or told that you simply need to and just learn to enjoy raw chicken like everyone else. Maybe you go hungry every night at dinner because the only thing being served are items as aversive as the cuts of raw chicken. Click here to read the rest of the story.

Autism and Learning: An Infographic

"What is autism and how does it affect a way a person learns? This infographic takes a look at autism and learning. It shows what obstacles people have when they're autistic and what ways they can facilitate their education." --visual.ly #Autism #Learning #Awareness

March Special Needs Article Links

Welcome to the March article links. These are articles that I tweeted and or received from viewers during the month of March on special needs and developmental disability topics. Enjoy!

3 key lessons no one told about dyslexia (The Pavlovic Today)

7 key social skills to help children with autism cope with bullying (Upbility)

7 signs adult ADHD might be interfering with your performance at work (Techco)

7 tips for motivating kids on the autism spectrum (PopSugar)

11 signs of autism in girls (Very Well)

Helping Asperger’s teens transition to college (My Asperger’s Child)

Helping your ADHD child with homework (Healthy Place)

Is sensory processing disorder the same as sensory processing sensitivity? (The Highly Sensitive Person)

Organization and attention challenges related to sensory processing disorder (The O.T. Toolbox)

Parents: Don’t hide your children’s autism diagnoses from them (Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism)

Sensory processing disorder at home ideas (Kids Activities Blog)

Sleep strategies for kids with autism and sensory needs (And Next Comes L)

What an autistic shutdown is like for me (The Mighty)

What teachers should know about ADHD and ASD (Edutopia)

 

February Special Needs Article Links

Welcome to the February links. These are articles that I tweeted and or received from viewers during the month of February on special needs and developmental disability topics. Enjoy!

specialneedslinks

10 fun activities for children with autism (education.com)

12 things to remember when working with challenging students (Think Inclusive)

Autism awareness and wandering- tips for parents and the wider community (Patient Talk)

Adults with autism: Scarce funds and wait lists (WUWF)

Adults with autism see interests as strengths, career paths (NYU)

Imaging study confirms differences in ADHD brains (The Conversation)

Justice side with Michigan girl in dispute over service dog (ABCNews)

Sensory processing disorder and autism: Task and the picky eater (Aspergers 101)

Supporting students with autism in the classroom: What teachers need to know (My Disability Matters)