diff --git a/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm b/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm
index 435c34784de..72bb8ceac94 100644
--- a/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm
+++ b/code/modules/clothing/ears/_ears.dm
@@ -22,6 +22,15 @@
 	AddElement(/datum/element/earhealing)
 	AddComponent(/datum/component/wearertargeting/earprotection, list(ITEM_SLOT_EARS))
 
+/obj/item/clothing/ears/earmuffs/equipped(mob/user, slot)
+	. = ..()
+	if(ishuman(user) && slot == ITEM_SLOT_EARS)
+		ADD_TRAIT(user, TRAIT_DEAF, CLOTHING_TRAIT)
+
+/obj/item/clothing/ears/earmuffs/dropped(mob/user)
+	. = ..()
+	REMOVE_TRAIT(user, TRAIT_DEAF, CLOTHING_TRAIT)
+
 /obj/item/clothing/ears/earmuffs/spacepods
 	name = "nanotrasen space pods"
 	desc = "Flex your money, AND ignore what everone else says, all at once!"