How to Fix Acrobat Read Aloud Reading Alt Text and Underlying Phone Numbers
Question details
The user needs to prevent the PDF Read Aloud feature from incorrectly reading both the alternative text and the underlying digit sequences of phone numbers.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Testing PDF document accessibility and alternative text tags using the built-in Read Aloud tool.
- Observed behavior
- The Read Aloud tool misinterprets the document's tagging, reading the phone number's digit sequence followed by the underlying text, instead of solely reading the assigned alternative text.
Ensure you have a backup of your original PDF document before modifying any accessibility tags or structural properties.
Upgrade to a Modern PDF Reader and Validate Document
Since older software versions are obsolete, upgrading to a currently supported PDF reader ensures compatibility with modern accessibility standards.
Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro is an outdated software version that no longer receives security patches or updates. Its built-in Read Aloud tool relies on older standards and often fails to interpret modern accessibility tagging correctly.
Furthermore, standard Read Aloud features are not designed to serve as full accessibility validators. Upgrading to a modern application will provide accurate tag interpretation and a more secure viewing environment.
Open a different, newly created PDF document with alternative text to check if the dual-reading behavior is specific to your current file or a software limitation.
Navigate to your system's control panel or settings and uninstall the unsupported Acrobat 9 Pro to prevent further security risks.
Download and install a modern PDF viewer or editor that supports current PDF tagging and accessibility standards.
Instead of relying on basic text-to-speech tools, run your document through a dedicated PDF accessibility checker to verify that alternative texts and reading orders are correctly formatted.
Reformat PDF Tags to Hide Underlying Text
If upgrading is not immediately possible, you can manually adjust the PDF tags to ensure the underlying text is treated as an artifact, forcing the reader to only read the alternative text.
Use WPS Office as Your Modern PDF Reader
WPS Office offers a built-in, lightweight, and modern PDF reader with a highly reliable Text-to-Speech function. It accurately interprets modern document structures, allowing you to listen to your PDFs without the glitches common in outdated software.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office Free from the official website onto your computer.
- 2. Open the PDF document: Launch WPS Office, click on 'Open', and select your PDF file to load it into the WPS PDF viewer.
- 3. Activate the Read feature: Navigate to the 'View' tab on the top menu ribbon and click the 'Read' button to start the text-to-speech playback smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF read the alt text and the actual text together?
This typically occurs in older PDF readers when a figure or object is tagged with alternative text, but the underlying text isn't properly marked as an artifact. Outdated software struggles to distinguish between the two and reads both sequentially.
Is the 'Read Aloud' tool the same as a screen reader?
No, a standard Read Aloud tool is a basic text-to-speech utility. It does not replace full-fledged screen readers like JAWS or NVDA, which are specifically designed to interpret complex accessibility tags and document structures for visually impaired users.
How can I test my PDF for accessibility compliance?
You should use a dedicated PDF accessibility checker, usually found in modern premium PDF editors. These tools analyze the reading order, tags, and contrast, providing a comprehensive report instead of relying solely on audio playback.
Why is it unsafe to keep using obsolete PDF software?
Software that has reached its end of support no longer receives crucial security patches. Opening malicious PDF files in outdated software can compromise your device's security and lead to unexpected behavior.
