86 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Other Specified Neurodevelopmental Disorder
315.8 (F88)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a neurodevel-
opmental disorder that cause impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas
of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the
neurodevelopmental disorders diagnostic clas s. The other specified neurodevelopmental
disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses to communicate the
specific reason that the presentation does not meet the criteria for any specific neurode-
velopmental disorder. This is done by recording “other specified neurodevelopmental dis-
order” followed by the specific reason (e.g., “neurodevelopmental disorder associated with
prenatal alcohol exposure”).
An example of a presentation that can be specified using the “other specified” desig-
nation is the following:
Neurodevelopmental disord er associated with pren atal alcohol exposure:  Neu-
rodevelopmental disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure is characterized
by a range of developmental disabilities following exposure to alcohol in utero.
Unspecified Neurodevelopmental Disorder
315.9 (F89)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a neurodevel-
opmental disorder that cause impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas
of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the
neurodevelopmental disorders diagnostic class. The unspecified neurodevelopmental dis-
order category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses not  to specify the reason
that the criteria are not met for a specific neurodevelopmental disorder, and includes pre-
sentations in which there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis
(e.g., in emergency room settings).