deaf fixes, potentially

code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life/handle_regular_status_updates.dm

@@ -99,13 +99,14 @@
 
 			AdjustEarDeafness(-1)
 
-			if(!ear_deaf && client && client.soundOutput)
-				client.soundOutput.status_flags ^= EAR_DEAF_MUTE
-				client.soundOutput.apply_status()
-
 		else if(ear_damage)
 			ear_damage = max(ear_damage - 0.05, 0)
 
+		// This should be done only on updates abvoe, or even better in the AdjsutEarDeafnes handlers
+		if(!ear_deaf && (client?.soundOutput?.status_flags & EAR_DEAF_MUTE))
+			client.soundOutput.status_flags ^= EAR_DEAF_MUTE
+			client.soundOutput.apply_status()
+
 		//Resting
 		if(resting)
 			dizziness = max(0, dizziness - 15)

code/modules/mob/living/living_health_procs.dm

@@ -393,11 +393,16 @@
 
 /mob/living/proc/on_deafness_gain()
 	to_chat(src, SPAN_WARNING("You notice you can't hear anything... you're deaf!"))
+	// We should apply deafness here instead of in handle_regular_status_updates
 	SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_MOB_DEAFENED)
 
 /mob/living/proc/on_deafness_loss()
 	to_chat(src, SPAN_WARNING("You start hearing things again!"))
 	SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_MOB_REGAINED_HEARING)
+	// Consider moving this to a signal on soundOutput. This is a fallback as handle_regular_status_updates SHOULD do the job.
+	if(!ear_deaf && (client?.soundOutput?.status_flags & EAR_DEAF_MUTE))
+		client.soundOutput.status_flags ^= EAR_DEAF_MUTE
+		client.soundOutput.apply_status()
 
 // heal ONE limb, organ gets randomly selected from damaged ones.
 /mob/living/proc/heal_limb_damage(brute, burn)