diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm
index 606daed0c5..a2fc28484d 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm
@@ -329,8 +329,13 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(department_radio_keys, list(
 	return 1
 
 /mob/living/proc/can_speak_vocal(message) //Check AFTER handling of xeno and ling channels
-	if(HAS_TRAIT(src, TRAIT_MUTE) && get_message_language(message) != /datum/language/signlanguage)
-		return 0
+	if(HAS_TRAIT(src, TRAIT_MUTE))
+		if (get_selected_language() != /datum/language/signlanguage)
+			return 0
+			
+	if (get_bodypart(BODY_ZONE_R_ARM).is_disabled() && get_bodypart(BODY_ZONE_L_ARM).is_disabled())
+		if (get_selected_language() == /datum/language/signlanguage)
+			return 0
 
 	if(is_muzzled())
 		return 0