What do I do if Reading Assistant Cannot Hear a Student?

Troubleshooting when Reading Assistant appears not to be listening

It can be frustrating to encounter issues with Reading Assistant not detecting a student's voice. This guide is designed to diagnose and resolve common audio issues efficiently.

Reading Assistant typically handles student accents and classroom noise without issue.

User Experience	Potential Cause	Recommended Action
Cursor is stalling or moving slowly Intervening on words that were pronounced correctly Not intervening when expected	Network issues: Slow speed or blocked content	Ensure all content filter requirements have been met Run a speed test at www.speedtest.net to ensure minimum device speeds are met (10 Mbps download/upload) are met
Error message with the ear Error message with the mic Error message with the red X	Hardware or Browser issues	Ensure you are using a compatible device Ensure your microphone is allowed Test your mic at Mic Test \| Mic Test Clear your browser's cookies and cache Ensure all other tabs and apps are closed Configure student headsets
Teacher observes a lot of background noise in recording Reading Assistant asks student to repeat phrases frequently	Behavior issue	Model reading fluently with a loud, proud voice Configure your classroom space so mics aren't directly behind each other Use a rolling start method for assessment Model appropriate headset use "hands off the mic and mute button." Use the Progress Report to rescore student assessments. Look out for yellow flagging in assessment.
Audio recordings sound distorted, too loud, or muffled	Behavior issue	Make sure student microphones are at least 6 inches from their mouths. Make sure nothing is blocking the microphone and it’s clean (no gunk). Teach students to speak in a normal, clear voice (not yell). Keep reading fluently. Don’t wait for the cursor to catch up.

The microphone is allowed, but Amira still can't hear my student.

We recommend verifying that the correct microphone is enabled in the device audio settings and that the microphone volume is turned up to around 50%

If you have tried the solutions above and are still stuck, please chat with us when the issue is happening and request a live troubleshooting session.