diff --git a/lib/Insteon.pm b/lib/Insteon.pm
index fa01d60d6..e55ee7961 100755
--- a/lib/Insteon.pm
+++ b/lib/Insteon.pm
@@ -400,9 +400,8 @@ sub scan_all_linktables
         	{
         		my $candidate_object = $_;
         		if ($candidate_object->is_root and
-                		!($candidate_object->isa('Insteon::RemoteLinc')
-                		or $candidate_object->isa('Insteon::InterfaceController')
-                       		or $candidate_object->isa('Insteon::MotionSensor')))
+                		!($candidate_object->is_deaf
+                		or $candidate_object->isa('Insteon::InterfaceController')))
                 	{
 		       		push @_scan_devices, $candidate_object;
                 		&main::print_log("[Scan all linktables] INFO1: "
@@ -511,7 +510,7 @@ sub sync_all_links
 	# iterate over all registered objects and compare whether the link tables match defined scene linkages in known Insteon_Links
 	for my $obj (&Insteon::find_members('Insteon::BaseController'))
 	{
-        	if ($obj->isa('Insteon::RemoteLinc') or $obj->isa('Insteon::MotionSensor'))
+        	if ($obj->is_deaf)
                 {
                 	&main::print_log("[Sync all links] Ignoring links from 'deaf' device: " . $obj->get_object_name);
                 }
diff --git a/lib/Insteon/AllLinkDatabase.pm b/lib/Insteon/AllLinkDatabase.pm
index aa47c807b..003db8636 100644
--- a/lib/Insteon/AllLinkDatabase.pm
+++ b/lib/Insteon/AllLinkDatabase.pm
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ sub delete_orphan_links
         # first, make sure that the health of ALDB is ok
         if ($self->health ne 'good')
         {
-        	if ($$self{device}->isa('Insteon::RemoteLinc') or $$self{device}->isa('Insteon::MotionSensor'))
+        	if ($self->is_deaf)
                 {
         		&::print_log("[Insteon::AllLinkDatabase] Delete orphan links: ignoring link from deaf device: $selfname");
 
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ sub delete_orphan_links
 			}
                         else # is a non-PLM device
                         {
-                        	if ($linked_device->isa('Insteon::RemoteLinc') or $linked_device->isa('Insteon::MotionSensor'))
+                        	if ($linked_device->is_deaf)
                                 {
                                 	&::print_log("[Insteon::AllLinkDatabase] Delete orphan links: ignoring link from $selfname to 'deaf' device: " . $linked_device->get_object_name);
                                 }
@@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ sub delete_orphan_links
                                                         	{
 									$member = $member->get_root;
 								}
-                        					if ($member->isa('Insteon::RemoteLinc') or $member->isa('Insteon::MotionSensor'))
+                        					if ($member->is_deaf)
                                                         	{
                                                                		&::print_log("[Insteon::AllLinkDatabase] ignoring link from " . $link->get_object_name . " to " .
                                                                		$member->get_object_name);
@@ -2830,7 +2830,7 @@ sub delete_orphan_links
 						}
 						if ($member->isa('Insteon::BaseDevice'))
                                                 {
-                                                	if ($member->isa('Insteon::RemoteLinc') or $member->isa('Insteon::MotionSensor'))
+                                                	if ($member->is_deaf)
                                                         {
                                                                &::print_log("[Insteon::ALDB_PLM] ignoring link from PLM to " .
                                                                		$member->get_object_name);
diff --git a/lib/Insteon/BaseInsteon.pm b/lib/Insteon/BaseInsteon.pm
index 43717c4ca..18c5e18f5 100644
--- a/lib/Insteon/BaseInsteon.pm
+++ b/lib/Insteon/BaseInsteon.pm
@@ -1260,6 +1260,7 @@ sub new
     $$self{hops_left_count} = 0;
     $$self{max_hops_count} = 0;
     $$self{outgoing_hop_count} = 0;
+	$$self{is_deaf} = 0;
 
 	return $self;
 }
@@ -1308,6 +1309,23 @@ sub set_receive
 	$self->SUPER::set_receive($p_state, $p_setby, $p_response);
 }
 
+=item C<is_deaf()>
+
+Returns true if the device must be awake in order to respond to messages.  Most
+devices are not deaf, currently devices that are deaf are battery operated
+devices such as the Motion Sensor, RemoteLinc and TriggerLinc.
+
+At the BaseObject level all devices are defined as not deaf.  Objects which
+inherit BaseObject should redefine is_deaf as necessary.
+
+=cut
+
+sub is_deaf
+{
+	my ($self) = @_;
+	return $$self{is_deaf};
+}
+
 =item C<is_controller()>
 
 Returns true if the device is a controller.
diff --git a/lib/Insteon/Controller.pm b/lib/Insteon/Controller.pm
index 871ed28b6..1d2e18299 100644
--- a/lib/Insteon/Controller.pm
+++ b/lib/Insteon/Controller.pm
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ sub new
 		$$self{queue_timer} = new Timer;
 	}
 	bless $self,$class;
+	$$self{is_deaf} = 1;
 	return $self;
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/Insteon/Security.pm b/lib/Insteon/Security.pm
index fe97e4014..65f4d3484 100644
--- a/lib/Insteon/Security.pm
+++ b/lib/Insteon/Security.pm
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ sub new
 		$$self{queue_timer} = new Timer;
 	}
 	bless $self,$class;
+	$$self{is_deaf} = 1;
 	return $self;
 }
 
@@ -775,6 +776,7 @@ sub new
 	my $self = new Insteon::BaseDevice($p_deviceid,$p_interface);
         $$self{message_types} = \%message_types;
 	bless $self,$class;
+	$$self{is_deaf} = 1;
 	return $self;
 }