A method can use dual-axis accelerometry signals obtained during a time period to classify segments of the time period as a cough or as a non-cough artifact (e.g., a rest state, a swallow, a tongue movement, or speech). The method can include representing segments of the dual-axis accelerometry signals as meta-features for each segment of the time period, preferably one or more time features, frequency features, time-frequency features, or information-theoretic features for each segment. The salient meta-features can be used to classify the segments as a cough or a non-cough artifact. Preferably a processing module operatively connected to the sensor performs the processing of the dual-axis accelerometry signals and also automatically classifies the segments. The method and/or the device can be used to diagnose or treat a dysphagia patient, for example by discriminating a cough from a swallow.
