[4][7] The school uses an approach which has been described variously as an oral-option[8] or auditory-oral[4] or auditory-aural[9] method, in the sense that the program helps children "to listen and talk without the use of sign language".

[18] The Summit Speech School was formed in 1967 with assistance from the Junior League and with efforts by volunteers such as Diane Hunt Lawrence.

[3] Most children served by the school have severe hearing loss, which can hamper their ability to comprehend speech in any environment with substantial background noise.

[9] Director Pamela Paskowitz said that the school tries to help particularly young children by teaching them to speak "clearly and often" and to use devices such as cochlear implants.

[3] According to a previous director: The natural reaction of a parent hearing that the child is deaf is to stop talking to the baby, and that's the very worst thing they can do.