Techniques for real-time audio communication including supplying an initial audio signal to an audio signal processor configured to process the initial audio signal and output a processed audio signal to an audio output means, obtaining a loopback audio signal corresponding to the processed audio signal, generating a plurality of audio features for the initial audio signal and the loopback audio signal, generating a similarity measure estimating a similarity of the initial audio signal to the first loopback audio signal based on at least the plurality of audio features, adjusting an adaptation rate for an audio signal processing operation based on at least the similarity measure, and controlling, based on at least the adjusted adaptation rate, an echo cancellation process for cancelling an estimated echo from a near-end audio signal received via an audio input means in proximity to the audio output means.