Google announced Monday that it’s launching a beta for a new Android feature called Live Transcribe, which can accurately create written captions from speech on the fly. It’s an accessibility-focused project made to help people with hearing loss communicate without making special arrangements or purchasing expensive equipment.

This surprisingly tough web game, from the Music Lab at the Harvard University Department of Psychology, tests how well you can distinguish tones by pitch. Put on your headphones and judge — as fast as you can — whether certain tones are higher or lower than others.

When I was at uni, I got a job as a DJ for our campus radio station. Over Christmas break they played back old shows to fill the time, and one morning I managed to actually tune into myself on the radio. It took me a few moments to realise that the person talking was me, and my first thought was a surprised "Oh no, do I really sound like that?"

You’re not just getting old. Today’s toys are too damn loud. This isn’t simply an annoyance that drives many parents to break out the hammer — prolonged exposure to high decibel levels can be dangerous for kids, and may even cause long-term hearing loss.

When I walk into my local cycling studio, the music is at a level that's easy to talk over. But once the instructor clips in, the volume goes way up. The sound fills your ears, so you can't hear the person next to you breathing heavy. You feel like you're inside the song, which helps you to really feel its energy. Perfect volume, right?

Hi, My name is James and I live in Melbourne and I’m 10 years old. Why do our ears pop when we reach a certain altitude?

My five-year-old daughter Maggie seems to have two volume levels outside of our home: "off" and Fran Drescher at a loud bar. It took a while for her to become comfortable talking to people at all, so I've been letting it go when she suddenly has something important to say and starts speaking in ALL CAPS. But at a recent parent meeting at her preschool, the director began introducing everyone to each other. When she got to me, she announced, "This is Michelle, mum to Maggie. I know you have all heard Maggie." Oy. Maybe we do need to work on volume control.

It's not just you -- shows and movies can be really loud. Carrying earplugs in your purse or pocket might sound like the kind of thing a cranky old person might do, but if you want to be able to complain about things like theatre noise when you're ancient, it's best to protect your hearing now.

"Can everyone hear me OK without this?" say the worst public speakers when they step up to the stage. If three people in the front row say yes, off goes the microphone. And then anybody who is hard of hearing (or listening remotely, or sitting in the back of the room) can't hear you. Use the mic.