Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 4 screen reader / browser combinations
WCAG Technique: ARIA12
Code used for this test:
<div role='heading' aria-level='1'>First level heading</div>
<p>Heading 1 content</p>
<div role='heading' aria-level='2'>Second level heading</div>
<p>Heading 2 content</p>
| Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF41 | Heading |  First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | FF29 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Heading | ARIA headings ignored. | |
| NVDA 2012.1 | FF29 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| NVDA 2012.1 | IE11 | Heading | ARIA headings ignored. | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF41 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF29 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF29 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF29 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Heading | First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2. | |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Heading | ARIA headings ignored. | |
| VoiceOver OSX 10.10 | Safari 9.0.1 | Heading | Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading. | |
| VoiceOver OSX 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Heading | Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading. | |
| VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading. | |
| VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading. | |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Heading | ARIA headings ignored. |
Test notes
The threshold for inclusion in these results is 5% usage in the most recent WebAIM screen reader survey. Chrome and Android still fall below the 5% threshold.
All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.
Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:
- Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader.
- Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader.
- Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader.
- Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device.
In the “What the user hears” column:
- Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing.
- Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again.
- Ellipsis (…) represent a long pause in voicing.