Q16.9 Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Exempt from present-on-admission (POA) reporting.

Applicable to

• Congenital absence of ear NOS

Applies from Q16 Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing

Excludes1 (never code together)

• congenital deafness (H90.-)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 154-156 in MDC 03.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 744.00 Unspecified anomaly of ear with impairment of hearing (approximate)
• 744.09 Other anomalies of ear causing impairment of hearing (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to Q16.9

Back-references to Q16.9

• Type 1 Excludes: Q17 Other congenital malformations of ear ("congenital malformations of ear with impairment of hearing (Q16.0-Q16.9)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Q16.9

• Absence (of) (organ or part) (complete or partial) › ear, congenital
• Agenesis › ear
• Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › auricle › ear › causing impairment of hearing
• Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › ear (external) › causing impairment of hearing
• Hypoplasia, hypoplastic › auditory canal › causing impairment of hearing
• Malformation (congenital) › ear › causing impairment of hearing
• Malformation (congenital) › ear › external › causing impairment of hearing
• Malposition › congenital › auditory canal › causing impairment of hearing
• Malposition › congenital › auricle (ear) › causing impairment of hearing

Nearby codes

• Q16.1 Congenital absence, atresia and stricture of auditory canal (external)
• Q16.2 Absence of eustachian tube
• Q16.3 Congenital malformation of ear ossicles
• Q16.4 Other congenital malformations of middle ear
• Q16.5 Congenital malformation of inner ear
• Q16.9 Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified (this code)