You’ve heard of tone-deafness, for example, someone who sings out of tune, or in psychology, someone who can’t pick up on cues in people's tone of voice. There’s an opposite kind of deafness I’ll call ...

In fourth grade music class, Sister Regina told me not to sing. “You’re distracting the other children,” she said in front of the whole class. “Just move your lips, but don’t make any sound.” My tone ...