Sensory Restoration: Fixed logical deafness & auditory alignment

backend/app/services/wake_word.py

@@ -153,9 +153,16 @@ def _listen_loop(chunk_size: int):
                         
                         # Only process if we have a full frame (prevent segfaults in ONNX)
                         if len(audio_frame) == chunk_size:
-                            # [SOVEREIGN PRIVACY]: Stop listening if core power is OFF (Locked)
+                            # [SOVEREIGN PRIVACY]: Stop listening if core power is OFF (Locked/Standby)
                             from app.services import state
-                            if state.is_sovereign_locked():
+                            is_locked = state.is_sovereign_locked()
+                            
+                            # Handle potential string values from the DB/Memory
+                            if isinstance(is_locked, str): is_locked = is_locked.lower() == "true"
+                            
+                            if is_locked:
+                                if time.time() % 30 < 0.1:
+                                    logger.info("👂 Acoustic Sentinel: Ears muted (Sovereign Standby)")
                                 continue
 
                             # Log audio level occasionally for diagnostic