Method and apparatus are provided for estimating noise variance using a long-term data aided algorithm and an interference variance using a short-term data aided algorithm. Using these estimations, an interference hypothesis may be determined. Some embodiments compute the variance for a decision directed noise sample, convert the variance for the decision directed noise to a true noise variance per packet, and convert the variance for the decision directed noise to a true noise variance per symbol. The interference hypothesis may be based on the noise variance estimations per symbol and the noise variance estimation per packet. Some embodiments determine the presence of noise based on a comparison of the noise variance per packet, the noise variance per symbol, and each hypothesis and compute the long-term noise variance. Using the long-term noise variance in place of the variance for a decision directed noise sample for a subsequent determination of interference.