- F81
- Developmental Disorders
Specific Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills (F81)
DSM-5-TR: Specific Learning Disorder
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 PrevalenceSpecific learning disorders affect approximately 5-10% of Australian school-age children. Dyslexia is the most common type.
- Global PrevalenceWorldwide prevalence approximately 5-15% of school-age children across languages and cultures.
- Duration RequirementPresent from early stages of development, typically identified in primary school
Overview
These are disorders in which the normal patterns of skill acquisition are disturbed from the early stages of development. The impairment is not solely a consequence of lack of opportunity to learn, intellectual disability, or any form of acquired brain trauma or disease.
Diagnostic Criteria (ICD-10)
Core Features
- Specific and significant impairment in the development of reading, spelling, or arithmetic skills
- Not solely the result of lack of opportunity, intellectual disability, or brain disease
- Development of the affected skill is significantly below expected level for age and general intelligence
Duration Present from early stages of development, typically identified in primary school
Exclusion Criteria
- Intellectual disability as primary cause (F70-F79)
- Inadequate schooling
- Acquired reading/writing disorders
ICD-10-AM Subcodes
| Code | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| F81.0 | Specific reading disorder | Significant impairment in reading skill development not accounted for by mental age, visual acuity, or inadequate schooling. |
| F81.1 | Specific spelling disorder | Significant impairment in spelling skill development not accounted for by low mental age, visual acuity problems, or inadequate schooling. |
| F81.2 | Specific disorder of arithmetical skills | Specific impairment in arithmetical skills not solely explicable by general intellectual disability or inadequate schooling. |
| F81.3 | Mixed disorder of scholastic skills | Significant impairment in both reading and arithmetical skills. |
| F81.8 | Other developmental disorders of scholastic skills | Other specified developmental disorders of scholastic skills. |
| F81.9 | Developmental disorder of scholastic skills, unspecified | Unspecified learning disorder. |
Classification Boundaries
Includes
- Developmental dyslexia
- Developmental dyscalculia
- Specific spelling disorder
- Specific reading disorder
Excludes1 (coded elsewhere)
- Intellectual disability (F70-F79)
- Reading or arithmetic difficulties due to inadequate teaching
Excludes2 (may co-occur)
- Alexia NOS (R48.0)
- Acalculia NOS (R48.8)
Australian Clinical Context
Specific learning disorders are assessed by educational and clinical psychologists in Australia. Schools provide learning support through individual education plans. NDIS may provide funding in some cases. The Australian Dyslexia Association provides advocacy and resources.
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
Educational psychology and remedial support may be accessed through school-based services or NDIS.
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 uses "Specific Learning Disorder" with specifiers for reading (dyslexia), written expression, and mathematics (dyscalculia). Assessment requires standardised educational testing. Document discrepancy between intellectual ability and academic achievement.
Related Diagnostic Codes
ICD-10-AM diagnostic codes commonly associated with the Specific Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills (F81).
Frequently Asked Questions
How is dyslexia coded in ICD-10-AM?
Dyslexia is coded as F81.0 "Specific reading disorder." The term "developmental dyslexia" is used clinically. ICD-10-AM does not use the term "dyslexia" as a primary code name, but it maps to F81.0.
References
- World Health Organization. ICD-10-AM.
- 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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