Theirs is not a physical or genetic problem. Rather, it is educational. There are other cultures that do not have such a high percentage of tone deaf citizens. In fact, in Hungary, where music is very much a part of the culture, tone deafness is almost unheard of. The result is that the people enjoy music.
Factory workers form choirs just as our workers often form bowling leagues.
This is but one example. However, the lesson is clear. We must not assume that perceptual development is automatic or that it is unimportant. We must see that children get the experiences they need in order to develop properly and fully.