Websites & patient experience · Practical guide

Let visitors choose when website sound begins

Audio that starts on page arrival can compete with a screen reader (software that reads the page aloud) or interrupt a quiet setting. Visitors may not immediately find which component is producing sound.

Healthcare website and appointment calendar displayed on devices at an empty clinic reception.
Make the website useful for the people who use your practice.

What to change

Ask your supplier to start media deliberately where possible and provide an obvious effective way to stop any automatic sound that remains.

A worked example

Illustrative example

A visitor chooses Play on an introductory clip when ready, while the rest of the page remains quiet and available for reading first.

Healthcare website design showing connected desktop and mobile service and enquiry layouts.
Make the service and next step clear on every screen.
Healthcare website accessibility illustrated by a focus outline, keyboard key, contrast samples and form.
Review keyboard access, contrast and understandable form fields.

Why this matters to your practice

Unexpected sound can be disruptive when someone opens your site at work, in a waiting room or while using spoken navigation. Let visitors choose when to start media wherever possible. If sound does begin automatically, ask your supplier to demonstrate an obvious, effective way to stop it immediately. Review a first visit as well as a returning visit, because remembered player settings may change the experience. A decorative video should not make finding practical information harder.

A practical review example

A person may open the site in a waiting room or while listening to page navigation through software. Unexpected audio competes with that context. Ask your supplier to demonstrate a first visit and a returning visit, since remembered player settings may change what happens. If sound starts automatically under the agreed design, locate and use the stopping control immediately with both sight and keyboard. A decorative media treatment should not make the practice's ordinary service and contact information harder to reach.

How to check the result

Accept when audio behaviour is predictable and the visitor can immediately control any sound the page initiates.

A mistake to avoid

Muting one visible video does not help if another hidden embed or background component continues producing sound elsewhere.

Turn reading into a next step

Your action checklist

Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.

Checks to discuss

Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.

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Further reading

These sources provide background for the topic. The practice examples and checklist are illustrative planning suggestions from Kay & Co.

Related guides

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