Deprive of an ear, working automatically (7)
I believe the answer is:
robotic
'working automatically' is the definition.
(a robot works automatically)
'deprive of an ear' is the wordplay.
'deprive of' becomes 'rob' (as in being robbed of a reward or victory).
'an ear' becomes 'otic' (I've seen this before).
'rob'+'otic'='ROBOTIC'
(Other definitions for robotic that I've seen before include "Using automatic" , "Like an automaton" , "acting without thinking?" , "Moving mechanically" , "Mechanical; unemotional" .)