Screen Reader Testing: What You Need to Know

Why Screen Reader Testing Matters

Automated testing tools can only catch about 30% of accessibility issues. Manual testing with screen readers is essential to understand the actual user experience for people who rely on these tools.

Popular Screen Readers

• NVDA (Windows): Free and open-source, widely used and recommended for testing.
• JAWS (Windows): The most popular commercial screen reader, but expensive.
• VoiceOver (Mac/iOS): Built into Apple devices, great for testing mobile accessibility.
• TalkBack (Android): Google's screen reader for Android devices.

Getting Started with NVDA

NVDA is free and provides an excellent testing experience. Download it from nvaccess.org and spend time learning the basic keyboard commands. The Insert key is your modifier key for most commands.

Key Testing Scenarios

• Navigate through headings using H and Shift+H
• Tab through interactive elements and verify focus order
• Test form completion and error handling
• Navigate lists and tables
• Verify images have appropriate alt text

Common Issues to Listen For

Pay attention to confusing link text like "click here," unlabeled form fields, missing landmarks, and repetitive content that wastes users' time.