Aspects of a method and system for detecting enhanced relative grants in a wireless communications system may include determining one or more signed signal power levels, wherein the one or more signed signal power levels may be positive E-RGCH signal levels or negative E-HICH signal levels. A probability density function may be estimated from the determined one or more signed signal power levels, and a decision threshold based on the estimated probability density function may be set. The probability density function may be estimated based on symmetry of the probability density function. The decision threshold may be set to achieve a desired probability of false positive detections. The decision threshold may be used to distinguish a received HOLD signal from a received DOWN signal for an E-RGCH channel, or to distinguish a received DTX signal from a received ACK signal for an E-HICH channel.