This preliminary study will examine the feasibility of a cough skill training treatment approach to rehabilitate voluntary cough function in people with head and neck cancer. Cough skill training focuses on practicing cough as a compensatory strategy for when food or liquid enters the airway. Primary outcomes will be feasibility and immediate treatment effects. The investigators hypothesize that the treatment will be feasible and will result in improvements to voluntary cough peak expiratory flow rate.
Prior diagnosis of head and neck cancer at least 6 months post-diagnosis
Completed treatment for head and neck cancer, including surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy
Medically stable and able to follow commands and produce a voluntary cough
English speaking
Unable to provide informed consent assessed by a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of <20
Unable to follow study instructions
Unable to produce a voluntary cough
History of neurologic disease