diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/components.dm b/code/__DEFINES/components.dm
index 67a44bbe01f..d955ed23d45 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/components.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/components.dm
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
 #define COMSIG_MOVABLE_UNBUCKLE "unbuckle"							//from base of atom/movable/unbuckle_mob(): (mob, force)
 #define COMSIG_MOVABLE_THROW "movable_throw"					//from base of atom/movable/throw_at(): (datum/thrownthing, spin)
 #define COMSIG_MOVABLE_Z_CHANGED "movable_ztransit" //from base of atom/movable/onTransitZ(): (old_z, new_z)
+
 // /obj signals
 #define COMSIG_OBJ_DECONSTRUCT "obj_deconstruct"				//from base of obj/deconstruct(): (disassembled)
 
diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/flags.dm b/code/__DEFINES/flags.dm
index 5b194642fd0..2f4ae3d78fc 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/flags.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/flags.dm
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(bitflags, list(1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 204
 
 #define BANG_PROTECT_2				(1<<6)
 
-// An item worn in the ear slot with HEALS_EARS will heal your ears each
-// Life() tick, even if normally your ears would be too damaged to heal.
-#define HEALS_EARS_2				(1<<7)
-
 // A mob with OMNITONGUE has no restriction in the ability to speak
 // languages that they know. So even if they wouldn't normally be able to
 // through mob or tongue restrictions, this flag allows them to ignore
diff --git a/code/_globalvars/bitfields.dm b/code/_globalvars/bitfields.dm
index a447df40451..1e23eef04f3 100644
--- a/code/_globalvars/bitfields.dm
+++ b/code/_globalvars/bitfields.dm
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(bitfields, list(
 		"NO_EMP_WIRES_2" = NO_EMP_WIRES_2,
 		"HOLOGRAM_2" = HOLOGRAM_2,
 		"BANG_PROTECT_2" = BANG_PROTECT_2,
-		"HEALS_EARS_2" = HEALS_EARS_2,
 		"OMNITONGUE_2" = OMNITONGUE_2,
 		"TESLA_IGNORE_2" = TESLA_IGNORE_2
 		),
diff --git a/code/datums/components/earhealing.dm b/code/datums/components/earhealing.dm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..79303ff701f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/datums/components/earhealing.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+// An item worn in the ear slot with this component will heal your ears each
+// Life() tick, even if normally your ears would be too damaged to heal.
+
+/datum/component/earhealing
+	var/mob/living/carbon/wearer
+
+/datum/component/earhealing/Initialize()
+	if(!isitem(parent))
+		return COMPONENT_INCOMPATIBLE
+	RegisterSignal(list(COMSIG_ITEM_EQUIPPED, COMSIG_ITEM_DROPPED), .proc/equippedChanged)
+
+/datum/component/earhealing/proc/equippedChanged(mob/living/carbon/user, slot)
+	if (slot == SLOT_EARS && istype(user))
+		if (!wearer)
+			START_PROCESSING(SSobj, src)
+		wearer = user
+	else
+		if (wearer)
+			STOP_PROCESSING(SSobj, src)
+		wearer = null
+
+/datum/component/earhealing/process()
+	if (!wearer)
+		STOP_PROCESSING(SSobj, src)
+		return
+	if(!wearer.has_trait(TRAIT_DEAF))
+		var/obj/item/organ/ears/ears = wearer.getorganslot(ORGAN_SLOT_EARS)
+		if (ears)
+			ears.deaf = max(ears.deaf - 1, (ears.ear_damage < UNHEALING_EAR_DAMAGE ? 0 : 1)) // Do not clear deafness while above the unhealing ear damage threshold
+			ears.ear_damage = max(ears.ear_damage - 0.1, 0)
diff --git a/code/datums/components/wearertargeting.dm b/code/datums/components/wearertargeting.dm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..adf8acceb98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/datums/components/wearertargeting.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// A dummy parent type used for easily making components that target an item's wearer rather than the item itself.
+
+/datum/component/wearertargeting
+	var/datum/component/mobhook
+	var/list/valid_slots = list()
+	var/list/signals = list()
+	var/datum/callback/callback = CALLBACK(GLOBAL_PROC, .proc/pass)
+	var/mobtype = /mob/living
+
+/datum/component/wearertargeting/Initialize()
+	if(!isitem(parent))
+		return COMPONENT_INCOMPATIBLE
+	RegisterSignal(list(COMSIG_ITEM_EQUIPPED, COMSIG_ITEM_DROPPED), .proc/checkMobHook)
+
+/datum/component/wearertargeting/Destroy()
+	QDEL_NULL(mobhook)
+	return ..()
+
+/datum/component/wearertargeting/proc/checkMobHook(mob/user, slot)
+	if ((slot in valid_slots) && istype(user, mobtype))
+		if (mobhook && mobhook.parent != user)
+			QDEL_NULL(mobhook)
+		if (!mobhook)
+			mobhook = user.AddComponent(/datum/component/redirect, signals, callback)
+	else
+		QDEL_NULL(mobhook)
diff --git a/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm b/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm
index 2ed77df3613..56797e26bda 100644
--- a/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm
+++ b/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@
 	strip_delay = 15
 	equip_delay_other = 25
 	resistance_flags = FLAMMABLE
-	flags_2 = BANG_PROTECT_2|HEALS_EARS_2
+	flags_2 = BANG_PROTECT_2
+
+/obj/item/clothing/ears/earmuffs/ComponentInitialize()
+	. = ..()
+	AddComponent(/datum/component/earhealing)
 
 /obj/item/clothing/ears/headphones
 	name = "headphones"
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/organs/ears.dm b/code/modules/surgery/organs/ears.dm
index fff342a1014..c54d3bb5329 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/organs/ears.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/organs/ears.dm
@@ -27,14 +27,9 @@
 	// genetic deafness prevents the body from using the ears, even if healthy
 	if(C.has_trait(TRAIT_DEAF))
 		deaf = max(deaf, 1)
-	else
-		if(C.ears && (C.ears.flags_2 & HEALS_EARS_2))
-			deaf = max(deaf - 1, 1)
-			ear_damage = max(ear_damage - 0.1, 0)
-		// if higher than UNHEALING_EAR_DAMAGE, no natural healing occurs.
-		if(ear_damage < UNHEALING_EAR_DAMAGE)
-			ear_damage = max(ear_damage - 0.05, 0)
-			deaf = max(deaf - 1, 0)
+	else if(ear_damage < UNHEALING_EAR_DAMAGE) // if higher than UNHEALING_EAR_DAMAGE, no natural healing occurs.
+		ear_damage = max(ear_damage - 0.05, 0)
+		deaf = max(deaf - 1, 0)
 
 /obj/item/organ/ears/proc/restoreEars()
 	deaf = 0
diff --git a/tgstation.dme b/tgstation.dme
index 38bfdba28e6..0242d2c56b5 100755
--- a/tgstation.dme
+++ b/tgstation.dme
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@
 #include "code\datums\components\cleaning.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\construction.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\decal.dm"
+#include "code\datums\components\earhealing.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\forensics.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\infective.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\jousting.dm"
@@ -335,6 +336,7 @@
 #include "code\datums\components\stationloving.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\swarming.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\thermite.dm"
+#include "code\datums\components\wearertargeting.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\wet_floor.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\decals\blood.dm"
 #include "code\datums\components\storage\storage.dm"