2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q16.5

Congenital malformation of inner ear

ICD-10-CM Code:
Q16.5
ICD-10 Code for:
Congenital malformation of inner ear
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
    (Q00-Q99)
    • Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck
      (Q10-Q18)
      • Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing
        (Q16)

Q16.5 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of congenital malformation of inner ear. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024. The code is exempt from present on admission (POA) reporting for inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Aplasia of the cochlea and vestibular labyrinth
  • Bilateral congenital malformation of ears
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea due to congenital deformity of labyrinth
  • Complete deafness
  • Congenital abnormal shape of inner ear
  • Congenital absence of membranous labyrinth
  • Congenital anomaly of cochlea
  • Congenital anomaly of inner ear
  • Congenital anomaly of membranous labyrinth
  • Congenital anomaly of organ of Corti
  • Congenital anomaly of semicircular canal
  • Congenital anomaly of vestibule of inner ear
  • Congenital aplasia of inner ear
  • Congenital cochleovestibular malformation
  • Congenital deafness
  • Congenital deafness with labyrinthine aplasia, microtia and microdontia
  • Congenital deformity of labyrinth
  • Congenital dysplasia of ear vestibule
  • Congenital malformation of bilateral inner ears
  • Congenital malformation of left inner ear
  • Congenital malformation of right inner ear
  • Incomplete development of membranous labyrinth
  • Incomplete formation of bony cochlea
  • Microdontia
  • Microtia
  • Mondini defect
  • Structural anomaly of the cochlea and vestibular labyrinth

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the external auditory meatus or through the eustachian tube into the nasopharynx. this is usually associated with craniocerebral trauma (e.g., skull fracture involving the temporal bone;), neurosurgical procedures; or other conditions, but may rarely occur spontaneously. (from am j otol 1995 nov;16(6):765-71)
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the ear structures.

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Congenital anomaly of membranous labyrinth
  • Congenital anomaly of organ of Corti

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Present on Admission (POA)

Q16.5 is exempt from POA reporting - The Present on Admission (POA) indicator is used for diagnosis codes included in claims involving inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals. POA indicators must be reported to CMS on each claim to facilitate the grouping of diagnoses codes into the proper Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG). CMS publishes a listing of specific diagnosis codes that are exempt from the POA reporting requirement. Review other POA exempt codes here.

CMS POA Indicator Options and Definitions

POA IndicatorReason for CodeCMS will pay the CC/MCC DRG?
YDiagnosis was present at time of inpatient admission.YES
NDiagnosis was not present at time of inpatient admission.NO
UDocumentation insufficient to determine if the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.NO
WClinically undetermined - unable to clinically determine whether the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.YES
1Unreported/Not used - Exempt from POA reporting. NO

Convert Q16.5 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 744.05 - Anomalies of inner ear

Patient Education


Ear Disorders

Your ear has three main parts: outer, middle and inner. You use all of them in hearing. Sound waves come in through your outer ear. They reach your middle ear, where they make your eardrum vibrate. The vibrations are transmitted through three tiny bones, called ossicles, in your middle ear. The vibrations travel to your inner ear, a snail-shaped organ. The inner ear makes the nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. Your brain recognizes them as sounds. The inner ear also controls balance.

A variety of conditions may affect your hearing or balance:

  • Ear infections are the most common illness in infants and young children.
  • Tinnitus, a roaring in your ears, can be the result of loud noises, medicines or a variety of other causes.
  • Meniere's disease may be the result of fluid problems in your inner ear; its symptoms include tinnitus and dizziness.
  • Ear barotrauma is an injury to your ear because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure.

Some ear disorders can result in hearing disorders and deafness.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Hearing Disorders and Deafness

It's frustrating to be unable to hear well enough to enjoy talking with friends or family. Hearing disorders make it hard, but not impossible, to hear. They can often be helped. Deafness can keep you from hearing sound at all.

What causes hearing loss? Some possibilities are:

  • Heredity
  • Diseases such as ear infections and meningitis
  • Trauma
  • Certain medicines
  • Long-term exposure to loud noise
  • Aging

There are two main types of hearing loss. One happens when your inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This type is usually permanent. The other kind happens when sound waves cannot reach your inner ear. Earwax buildup, fluid, or a punctured eardrum can cause it. Treatment or surgery can often reverse this kind of hearing loss.

Untreated, hearing problems can get worse. If you have trouble hearing, you can get help. Possible treatments include hearing aids, cochlear implants, special training, certain medicines, and surgery.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.