An apparatus comprises a vibrational transducer, a placement band, a driver module and a control module. The placement band is configured to hold the vibrational transducer adjacent to the skin surface overlying the cricoid cartilage and trachea region of a patient's neck. The driver module is configured to apply a drive signal to the vibrational transducer. The control module is configured to receive at least one input configured to provide vibrational operating information and control the driver module to cause the vibrational transducer to apply a vibratory stimulation in an amount determined, at least in part, by the vibrational operating information.
