1. A method of operating a speech recognition system, said method comprising the steps of: identifying a speaker by text-independent comparison of an input speech signal with a stored representation of speech signals corresponding to one of a plurality of speakers, said input speech signal including a plurality of words, providing a speech processing model to said speech recognition system in accordance with results of said identifying step, and recognizing said plurality of words within said input speech signal with said speech processing model, said stored representation of speech signals and said speech processing model being loaded into said system only once for recognition of said speaker and said plurality of words in said input speech signal so that said system performs continues speech recognition for said plurality of words, wherein said method includes the further step of: processing said speech signal in accordance with a speaker independent model during but prior to completion of said identifying step.