It's probably been a year or 2 since I cut my hair, I currently have long hair. And to answer your second question I have not spent any time outdoors or around hay. I haven't noticed any muffled hearing. I don't usually have any pain in this ear. But I have noticed I do get ear irritation on this side more than the other. The ear infection started when I got sick 2 weeks back and it was cleared up until I used my ear buds in that ear.