Respironics DreamWear Gel: Question regarding front slit

I started using Respironics DreamWear Gel Pillow recently.

I see that it has a small slit in the front, on the other side of the nasal pillow, just above my upper lip.

Air seems to be leaking out from this slit all the time, I could hear a constant hissing sound during the night because of this.
Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong with the way I am wearing it?

I even tried putting different types of tape on this, but the material of the mask is such that no tape sticks to it.

Any help is appreciated.

That slit is the vent opening. You don't want to block it. It's normal for air to be escaping from the slit because that's where the carbon dioxide in your own exhaled breath needs to go so that you don't rebreathe it.

You shouldn't be hearing it though unless it is bouncing off something (bed covers, your arm, whatever).

There is also a similar vent hole at the top of the mask where the hose attaches to the frame.

You don't want to ever block the vent holes on any mask.

I'm trying the mask now. The front slit is definitely making lots of noise especially when breathing. It vibrates. If plugged by a finger temporarily the mask is much more silent.
I guess they could not make the usual lots-of-small-holes in the silicone and had to do with a slit. Maybe the next version will embed a proper diffuser.

I have one and the nasal mask is much louder than my f20. There are exhaust holes in a diffuser pattern on the top, but I heard the they had to make a hole in the bottom so humidity can drain out, as it is sometimes the lowest point. I dont know if it is true, but thats what one of the reviews said.

I guess I'm just not sensitive to noise from this slit. I know it is there because I can feel it if I put my hand up to it, but I don't hear a sound from it. Of course I don't hear any noise from my Dreamstation either and others seem to.

Silence is Golden!

edatlanta wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 05, 2018 4:37 am

I guess I'm just not sensitive to noise from this slit. I know it is there because I can feel it if I put my hand up to it, but I don't hear a sound from it. Of course I don't hear any noise from my Dreamstation either and other seem to.

Silence is Golden!

I'm skeptical. The noise could be coming from the slit, but it might be to be due to a poor seal around the pillows themselves.

I know that when I tried the DreamWear nasal pillows, any problem with a seal at the nose caused the mask to seem louder everywhere else as well.