According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing communication impairments between Internet Protocol devices is provided. The method includes determining a transmission of a signal comprising a comfort noise, where the signal is transmitted from a first endpoint to a second endpoint. The method also includes sending a notice signal from the first endpoint to the second endpoint indicating that the signal is transmitted. The method also includes suppressing the signal at the second endpoint in response to the notice signal. According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for managing communication impairments between an Internet Protocol ("IP") phone and an IP device is provided. The method provides sending a status signal to the device indicating that the phone is operating as a speakerphone. The method also includes suppressing the transmission of any comfort noise to the phone in response to the status signal.