ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

Q16Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing

Not billable — use a more specific code

Q16 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 7 more specific codes beneath it.Short description: Congenital malform of ear causing impairment of hearing

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About Q16

Q16 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing. It belongs to block Q10-Q18 (congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck) and chapter 17 (congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 7 subcodes must be used instead.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: Q16.0 (auricle), Q16.1 ((external)), Q16.2 (tube), Q16.3 (ossicles), Q16.4 (ear), Q16.5 (ear) and Q16.9 (unspecified).

Don't report Q16 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: congenital deafness (H90.-).

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Specific codes under Q16

Coding notes

Excludes1Not coded here — never report together with this code

congenital deafness (H90.-)

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to Q16.

Broader instructions also apply from Q10-Q18 Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck and Chapter 17: Congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders.

Code history

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2027

FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about Q16

Is Q16 billable?: No. Q16 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.