How to talk & even drink, with your mask on?

[Gideon]

Maybe I can get some support from PeytonA in this matter since I he has said he does this too.  I have been using nasal CPAP since 2008.  Fairly early on I learned I needed to be able to communicate with my wife after the CPAP started.  Last night a phone call came in a 1:20 AM and I even answered the phone, informing the caller "it's the middle of the night, what do you need?".

I speak on the exhale part of the cycle and have no problem preventing air from rushing out my mouth.  It is an acquired skill, and all of the control comes from pressure of the tongue against the soft palate, and control of breathing effort.  I can breath through my mouth and block the nasal air pressure, and I can equally breath both nasally and orally at the same time under pressure. I can open my mouth and not leak air, which to me makes the concept of using a chin strap completely invalid.  I can even drink water by blocking the air, taking water into my mouth and swallowing.  I can drink from a glass or a bottle.  I don't know that I can describe to you how to do this, but it's easy and natural for me, in spite of IPAP pressure that goes to 18.  

Practice makes perfect.  Keep working on it.

I never really thought about it.   Me too, I have surprised sleep techs with my ability to talk.  The ability came fairly natural too me but not at first.  The tongue on the roof of the mouth is the trick.

Thanks SleepRider for the VERY good description.

Fred