VoiceOver not reading notifications in iOS 9.1

I think it's a cover thing. You see, some cases have a flap or cover that can be used to protect the screen, and when you close it, the screen locks automatically. It has the same effect of pressing the power button to lock the screen. When you open it back up, the iOS device returns you to your last action before you closed the cover. So, when you hear the notification sound and you are not hearing any speech and the screen is locked with the door closed, you will not hear any notifications being read aloud, and when you open the door, iOS will go to the lock screen and read out notifications. At least, it did for me when I get mail notifications and other activities. I hope this helps.

ok.

I have a case that protects my IPod touch and I have run across this behavior. In order to fix this problem, go in to accessibility under speech and turn on reading of notifications. It used to be that you could have certain notifications read. Not so much anymore. And yes, I am running the latest build that Apple has released.

I don't know how long this has been implemented, but if you turn your iPhone face down and place it on a flat surface, the screen won't wake up when you get notifications, and VO won't read them in that case either. What's probably happening is that when your screen is completely covered, the phone thinks you've got it face down on a flat surface, and so the screen isn't going to wake up. If the screen doesn't wake up when you get a notification, you won't hear them spoken by VO.

Maybe you don't have lock/unlock setting turned on.