He dropped the silence when it was obvious Stephanie got the full effect of his powers.

"Not mutant ones," he answered. "Lab accident back home with bio-medical chemicals. I can put up a limited silence field. It was how we didn't get caught on the balcony at that one gala." Sometimes he tried to protect that public image Stephanie valued. "And then I have enhanced hearing. I can hear things up to two miles away. Helps with surveillance. And despite that, really loud noises can't deafen me. Which is how I escaped from Stahlman that time I ended up in the hospital."