1. A method for recognizing speech, the method comprising the steps of: analyzing speech input with an apparatus using at least one hardware-implemented processor to generate a hypothesis and a confidence factor associated with the hypothesis; comparing said confidence factor to an acceptance threshold for accepting or rejecting the hypothesis; and comparing the hypothesis to an expected response, and if the comparison is favorable, adjusting the acceptance threshold in order to affect the acceptance of the hypothesis.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the confidence factor is reflective of a probability generated for the hypothesis in the speech-analyzing step.