A method, apparatus and system detects a loss of synchronization between a transmitter and a receiver in a multiple-carrier communication system such as an OFDM system. A plurality of synchronization indicators are observed to determine whether a loss of synchronization between a transmitter and a receiver in the wireless system has occurred. In one embodiment, the receiver is determined to have lost synchronization with the transmitter if two or more of the three synchronization indicators indicate a loss of synchronization. In such an embodiment, the three synchronization indicators include a timing error indicator, an energy guard band indicator and a phase-frequency slope indicator.