- F80
- Developmental Disorders
Specific Developmental Disorders of Speech and Language (F80)
DSM-5-TR: Communication Disorders
ICD-10-AM and DSM-5-TR may classify conditions differently. Refer to APA and WHO for complete diagnostic criteria.
Key Facts
- ICD-10 RangeF80-F89
- Subcodes6 subcodes
- Australian PrevalenceSpeech and language disorders affect approximately 5-8% of Australian preschool children. Early identification through child health checks is a priority in Australian paediatric services.
- Global PrevalenceApproximately 5-10% of children worldwide are affected by speech and language disorders. Boys are more commonly affected than girls.
- Duration RequirementPresent from early development, typically identified in preschool years
Overview
These are disorders in which the normal patterns of language acquisition are disturbed from the early stages of development. The conditions are not directly attributable to neurological or speech mechanism abnormalities, sensory impairments, intellectual disability, or environmental factors.
Diagnostic Criteria (ICD-10)
Core Features
- Normal patterns of language acquisition disturbed from early stages of development
- Not directly attributable to neurological or speech mechanism abnormalities
- Not due to sensory impairments, intellectual disability, or environmental factors
- Specific developmental delays in speech articulation, expressive language, or receptive language
Duration Present from early development, typically identified in preschool years
Exclusion Criteria
- Hearing impairment accounting for language delay
- Intellectual disability as primary cause (use F70-F79)
- Acquired aphasia (except Landau-Kleffner, F80.3)
- Autism spectrum disorder as primary condition (use F84)
ICD-10-AM Subcodes
| Code | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| F80.0 | Specific speech articulation disorder | Use of speech sounds below the appropriate level for mental age, with normal language skills. |
| F80.1 | Expressive language disorder | The child's ability to use expressive spoken language is markedly below the appropriate level for mental age, while comprehension is within normal limits. |
| F80.2 | Receptive language disorder | Comprehension of language is below the appropriate level for mental age. Expressive language is typically also impaired. |
| F80.3 | Acquired aphasia with epilepsy (Landau-Kleffner syndrome) | Loss of receptive and expressive language associated with EEG abnormalities. |
| F80.8 | Other developmental disorders of speech and language | Other specified developmental speech and language conditions. |
| F80.9 | Developmental disorder of speech and language, unspecified | Developmental speech/language disorder where the specific type is unspecified. |
Classification Boundaries
Includes
- Developmental dysphasia or aphasia (expressive type)
- Developmental dysphasia or aphasia (receptive type)
- Developmental phonological disorder
- Functional speech articulation disorder
- Lalling
Excludes1 (coded elsewhere)
- Aphasia NOS (R47.0)
- Hearing loss (H90-H91)
- Intellectual disability (F70-F79)
- Selective mutism (F94.0)
- Autism spectrum disorder (F84)
Excludes2 (may co-occur)
- Dysphasia and aphasia NOS (R47.0)
- Cleft palate speech (Q35-Q37)
Australian Clinical Context
Speech and language disorders are commonly identified through Australian child health checks (e.g., 4-year-old health check). Speech pathology services are available through NDIS, public health services, and private practice. Early intervention is a priority in Australian paediatric services.
Medicare (MBS) Pathways
Better Access to Mental Health Care
The primary Medicare pathway for mental health treatment in Australia. Requires a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) referral. Available for any clinically diagnosed mental disorder.
10 individual + 10 group sessions per calendar year
| Provider Type | MBS Items | Session Type |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychologist | 80000–80025 | Psychological therapy (higher rebate) |
| Registered Psychologist | 80100–80123 | Focused psychological strategies |
| Occupational Therapist | 80125–80145 | Focused psychological strategies |
| Social Worker | 80150–80175 | Focused psychological strategies |
| Psychiatrist | 291, 296–299, 300–308 | Psychiatric consultation |
GP referral items: 2700, 2701, 2715, 2717
Eligibility: Any clinically diagnosed mental disorder as defined by WHO ICD-10 Chapter V. Requires a GP or psychiatrist referral.
Exclusions:
- Intellectual disability (use Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder pathway or specialist referral)
- Dementia and organic mental disorders (use specialist referral pathway)
- Tobacco use disorder
Speech pathology services may also be accessed through NDIS, Helping Children with Autism packages, or CDM allied health items (10970).
Grounded Scribe suggests the right MBS item codes from your recording so you can claim accurately without re-keying.
Reference information sourced from MBS Online (mbsonline.gov.au). Item availability, rebates, and eligibility criteria may change. This is not billing advice — always verify current items before claiming. Last verified: April 2026.
Clinical Documentation Notes
DSM-5-TR categorises these under "Communication Disorders" (Language Disorder, Speech Sound Disorder, Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder, Social Communication Disorder). Assessment should be conducted by a qualified speech pathologist. Exclude hearing impairment as a contributing factor.
Related Diagnostic Codes
ICD-10-AM diagnostic codes commonly associated with the Specific Developmental Disorders of Speech and Language (F80).
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a child be referred for speech assessment?
Australian guidelines suggest referral if a child is not babbling by 12 months, has no words by 18 months, is not combining two words by 2 years, or if speech is largely unintelligible to unfamiliar listeners by 3 years. Any regression in language abilities warrants prompt assessment.
References
- World Health Organization. ICD-10-AM.
- Speech Pathology Australia. Clinical Guidelines.
- American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5-TR. 2022.
This tool calculates scores based on published guidelines for professional reference. It does not provide clinical diagnoses. Scores are provided as reference information only and should be interpreted by a qualified practitioner in the context of a comprehensive assessment.
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