In this column, we'll discuss many aspects of healthy living and answer a wide variety of questions -- ranging from when it's safe to fly with an infant to whether it's normal for adults to get ear infections and how to make the most of your medical visits.

CNN: Learn to live well with CNNhealth

Several weeks later, although hearing sensitivity had recovered to normal levels, activity in the auditory nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain remained impaired.

BBC: Viewpoint: Does deafness contribute to dementia?

Apparently in a study done by the Deafness Research UK in conjunction with Dr. Brad Backus of University College London, 14 out of 15 toys tested produced noise levels above the recommended safety limit when held close to the ear. 8 of the 15 were just fine during normal use, but the three worst offenders -- a machine gun, a tommy gun and a cap gun -- are on the "avoid" list.

ENGADGET: Christmas toy noises are/aren't dangerous