A double talk activity detector (30) and method for an echo canceler circuit (10) improves the probability of detecting a double talk condition based on at least pre-echo canceler uplink data (40). The echo canceler circuit (10) includes a double talk activity probability data generator (30) and an echo canceler stage (20). The double talk activity probability data generator (30) receives pre-echo canceler uplink data (40) and in response produces double talk activity probability data (50). The echo canceler stage (20) is coupled to the double talk activity probability data generator (30) and receives downlink data (60), pre-echo canceler uplink data (40) and the double talk activity probability data (50) and in response produces attenuated uplink data (70).