diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e969b3ae..6bbdaf66 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
     "@google-cloud/common": "^0.7.0",
     "events-intercept": "^2.0.0",
     "extend": "^3.0.0",
-    "google-gax": "^0.7.0",
+    "google-gax": "^0.8.1",
     "google-proto-files": "^0.8.0",
     "is": "^3.1.0",
     "modelo": "^4.2.0",
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index ec6f9c7a..f3c7e446 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -659,7 +659,10 @@ Speech.prototype.recognize = function(file, config, callback) {
       return;
     }
 
-    self.api.Speech.syncRecognize(config, foundFile, function(err, resp) {
+    self.api.Speech.syncRecognize({
+      config: config,
+      audio: foundFile
+    }, function(err, resp) {
       if (err) {
         callback(err, null, resp);
         return;
@@ -799,7 +802,10 @@ Speech.prototype.startRecognition = function(file, config, callback) {
       return;
     }
 
-    self.api.Speech.asyncRecognize(config, foundFile, function(err, resp) {
+    self.api.Speech.asyncRecognize({
+      config: config,
+      audio: foundFile
+    }, function(err, resp) {
       if (err) {
         callback(err, null, resp);
         return;
diff --git a/src/v1beta1/speech_api.js b/src/v1beta1/speech_api.js
index ebc4582a..b6e3b1f2 100644
--- a/src/v1beta1/speech_api.js
+++ b/src/v1beta1/speech_api.js
@@ -108,12 +108,14 @@ function SpeechApi(gaxGrpc, grpcClients, opts) {
  * Perform synchronous speech-recognition: receive results after all audio
  * has been sent and processed.
  *
- * @param {Object} config
+ * @param {Object} request
+ *   The request object that will be sent.
+ * @param {Object} request.config
  *   [Required] The `config` message provides information to the recognizer
  *   that specifies how to process the request.
  *
  *   This object should have the same structure as [RecognitionConfig]{@link RecognitionConfig}
- * @param {Object} audio
+ * @param {Object} request.audio
  *   [Required] The audio data to be recognized.
  *
  *   This object should have the same structure as [RecognitionAudio]{@link RecognitionAudio}
@@ -124,27 +126,25 @@ function SpeechApi(gaxGrpc, grpcClients, opts) {
  *   The function which will be called with the result of the API call.
  *
  *   The second parameter to the callback is an object representing [SyncRecognizeResponse]{@link SyncRecognizeResponse}
- * @returns {gax.EventEmitter} - the event emitter to handle the call
- *   status.
+ * @returns {Promise} - The promise which resolves to the response object.
+ *   The promise has a method named "cancel" which cancels the ongoing API call.
  *
  * @example
  *
  * var api = speechV1beta1.speechApi();
  * var config = {};
  * var audio = {};
- * api.syncRecognize(config, audio, function(err, response) {
- *     if (err) {
- *         console.error(err);
- *         return;
- *     }
+ * var request = {
+ *     config: config,
+ *     audio: audio
+ * };
+ * api.syncRecognize(request).then(function(response) {
  *     // doThingsWith(response)
+ * }).catch(function(err) {
+ *     console.error(err);
  * });
  */
-SpeechApi.prototype.syncRecognize = function syncRecognize(
-    config,
-    audio,
-    options,
-    callback) {
+SpeechApi.prototype.syncRecognize = function(request, options, callback) {
   if (options instanceof Function && callback === undefined) {
     callback = options;
     options = {};
@@ -152,11 +152,7 @@ SpeechApi.prototype.syncRecognize = function syncRecognize(
   if (options === undefined) {
     options = {};
   }
-  var req = {
-    config: config,
-    audio: audio
-  };
-  return this._syncRecognize(req, options, callback);
+  return this._syncRecognize(request, options, callback);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -165,12 +161,14 @@ SpeechApi.prototype.syncRecognize = function syncRecognize(
  * `Operation.error` or an `Operation.response` which contains
  * an `AsyncRecognizeResponse` message.
  *
- * @param {Object} config
+ * @param {Object} request
+ *   The request object that will be sent.
+ * @param {Object} request.config
  *   [Required] The `config` message provides information to the recognizer
  *   that specifies how to process the request.
  *
  *   This object should have the same structure as [RecognitionConfig]{@link RecognitionConfig}
- * @param {Object} audio
+ * @param {Object} request.audio
  *   [Required] The audio data to be recognized.
  *
  *   This object should have the same structure as [RecognitionAudio]{@link RecognitionAudio}
@@ -181,27 +179,25 @@ SpeechApi.prototype.syncRecognize = function syncRecognize(
  *   The function which will be called with the result of the API call.
  *
  *   The second parameter to the callback is an object representing [google.longrunning.Operation]{@link external:"google.longrunning.Operation"}
- * @returns {gax.EventEmitter} - the event emitter to handle the call
- *   status.
+ * @returns {Promise} - The promise which resolves to the response object.
+ *   The promise has a method named "cancel" which cancels the ongoing API call.
  *
  * @example
  *
  * var api = speechV1beta1.speechApi();
  * var config = {};
  * var audio = {};
- * api.asyncRecognize(config, audio, function(err, response) {
- *     if (err) {
- *         console.error(err);
- *         return;
- *     }
+ * var request = {
+ *     config: config,
+ *     audio: audio
+ * };
+ * api.asyncRecognize(request).then(function(response) {
  *     // doThingsWith(response)
+ * }).catch(function(err) {
+ *     console.error(err);
  * });
  */
-SpeechApi.prototype.asyncRecognize = function asyncRecognize(
-    config,
-    audio,
-    options,
-    callback) {
+SpeechApi.prototype.asyncRecognize = function(request, options, callback) {
   if (options instanceof Function && callback === undefined) {
     callback = options;
     options = {};
@@ -209,11 +205,7 @@ SpeechApi.prototype.asyncRecognize = function asyncRecognize(
   if (options === undefined) {
     options = {};
   }
-  var req = {
-    config: config,
-    audio: audio
-  };
-  return this._asyncRecognize(req, options, callback);
+  return this._asyncRecognize(request, options, callback);
 };
 
 function SpeechApiBuilder(gaxGrpc) {
diff --git a/test/index.js b/test/index.js
index e1b414f1..f5b991a3 100644
--- a/test/index.js
+++ b/test/index.js
@@ -647,13 +647,13 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
 
     it('should make the correct request', function(done) {
       speech.api.Speech = {
-        syncRecognize: function(config, file) {
+        syncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
           var expectedConfig = extend({}, CONFIG, {
             encoding: DETECTED_ENCODING
           });
-          assert.deepEqual(config, expectedConfig);
 
-          assert.strictEqual(file, FOUND_FILE);
+          assert.deepEqual(reqOpts.config, expectedConfig);
+          assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.audio, FOUND_FILE);
 
           done();
         }
@@ -672,8 +672,8 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
       };
 
       speech.api.Speech = {
-        syncRecognize: function(config_) {
-          assert.strictEqual(config_.encoding, config.encoding);
+        syncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
+          assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.config.encoding, config.encoding);
           done();
         }
       };
@@ -690,8 +690,8 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
       };
 
       speech.api.Speech = {
-        syncRecognize: function(config) {
-          assert.strictEqual(config.encoding, expectedEncoding);
+        syncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
+          assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.config.encoding, expectedEncoding);
           done();
         }
       };
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
 
       beforeEach(function() {
         speech.api.Speech = {
-          syncRecognize: function(config, file, callback) {
+          syncRecognize: function(reqOpts, callback) {
             callback(error, apiResponse);
           }
         };
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
         };
 
         speech.api.Speech = {
-          syncRecognize: function(config, file, callback) {
+          syncRecognize: function(reqOpts, callback) {
             callback(null, apiResponse);
           }
         };
@@ -815,8 +815,8 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
 
       it('should delete verbose option from request object', function(done) {
         speech.api.Speech = {
-          syncRecognize: function(config) {
-            assert.strictEqual(config.verbose, undefined);
+          syncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
+            assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.config.verbose, undefined);
             done();
           }
         };
@@ -861,13 +861,13 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
 
     it('should make the correct request', function(done) {
       speech.api.Speech = {
-        asyncRecognize: function(config, file) {
+        asyncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
           var expectedConfig = extend({}, CONFIG, {
             encoding: DETECTED_ENCODING
           });
-          assert.deepEqual(config, expectedConfig);
 
-          assert.strictEqual(file, FOUND_FILE);
+          assert.deepEqual(reqOpts.config, expectedConfig);
+          assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.audio, FOUND_FILE);
 
           done();
         }
@@ -886,8 +886,8 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
       };
 
       speech.api.Speech = {
-        asyncRecognize: function(config_) {
-          assert.strictEqual(config_.encoding, config.encoding);
+        asyncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
+          assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.config.encoding, config.encoding);
           done();
         }
       };
@@ -904,8 +904,8 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
       };
 
       speech.api.Speech = {
-        asyncRecognize: function(config) {
-          assert.strictEqual(config.encoding, expectedEncoding);
+        asyncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
+          assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.config.encoding, expectedEncoding);
           done();
         }
       };
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
 
       beforeEach(function() {
         speech.api.Speech = {
-          asyncRecognize: function(config, file, callback) {
+          asyncRecognize: function(reqOpts, callback) {
             callback(error, apiResponse);
           }
         };
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
         };
 
         speech.api.Speech = {
-          asyncRecognize: function(config, file, callback) {
+          asyncRecognize: function(reqOpts, callback) {
             callback(null, apiResponse);
           }
         };
@@ -1058,8 +1058,8 @@ describe('Speech', function() {
 
       it('should delete verbose option from request object', function(done) {
         speech.api.Speech = {
-          asyncRecognize: function(config) {
-            assert.strictEqual(config.verbose, undefined);
+          asyncRecognize: function(reqOpts) {
+            assert.strictEqual(reqOpts.config.verbose, undefined);
             done();
           }
         };