A method for detecting pauses in speech signals is disclosed in which the frequency spectrum is divided into two or more sub-bands. Samples of the signals on the sub-bands are stored at intervals, the energy levels of the sub-bands are determined on the basis of the stored samples, a power threshold value (thr) is determined, and the energy levels of the sub-bands are compared with said power threshold value (thr) . A subband minimum is set and a detection time limit is set so that, in a noise situation, a speech pause can be verified by checking to determine if each pause detected remains for the duration of the detection time limit and if a pause is detected in at least said minimum subbands.