diff --git a/js/accessibility/AccessibleValueHandler.js b/js/accessibility/AccessibleValueHandler.js
index 9310aa3b..c9e2c7b0 100644
--- a/js/accessibility/AccessibleValueHandler.js
+++ b/js/accessibility/AccessibleValueHandler.js
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ define( require => {
   const KeyboardUtil = require( 'SCENERY/accessibility/KeyboardUtil' );
   const Node = require( 'SCENERY/nodes/Node' );
   const Property = require( 'AXON/Property' );
-  const StringUtils = require( 'PHETCOMMON/util/StringUtils' );
   const sun = require( 'SUN/sun' );
-  const SunConstants = require( 'SUN/SunConstants' );
   const Util = require( 'DOT/Util' );
   const Utterance = require( 'SCENERY_PHET/accessibility/Utterance' );
   const utteranceQueue = require( 'SCENERY_PHET/accessibility/utteranceQueue' );
@@ -64,28 +62,12 @@ define( require => {
          */
         initializeAccessibleValueHandler( valueProperty, rangeProperty, enabledProperty, options ) {
 
-          // ensure that the client does not set both a custom text pattern and a text creation function
-          assert && assert(
-            !( options.a11yValuePattern && options.a11yCreateAriaValueText ),
-            'cannot set both a11yValuePattern and a11yCreateAriaValueText in options'
-          );
-
           // if rounding to keyboard step, keyboardStep must be defined so values aren't skipped and the slider   
           // doesn't get stuck while rounding to the nearest value, see https://github.com/phetsims/sun/issues/410
           if ( assert && options.roundToStepSize ) {
             assert( options.keyboardStep, 'rounding to keyboardStep, define appropriate keyboardStep to round to' );
           }
 
-          // verify that a11yValuePattern includes SunConstants.VALUE_NAMED_PLACEHOLDER, and that is the only key in the pattern
-          if ( assert && options.a11yValuePattern ) {
-            assert( options.a11yValuePattern.match( /{{[^{}]+}}/g ).length === 1,
-              'a11yValuePattern only accepts a single \'value\' key'
-            );
-            assert( options.a11yValuePattern.indexOf( SunConstants.VALUE_NAMED_PLACEHOLDER ) >= 0,
-              'a11yValuePattern must contain a key of \'value\''
-            );
-          }
-
           const defaults = {
 
             // other
@@ -101,7 +83,6 @@ define( require => {
             // TODO: this should be an enumeration, https://github.com/phetsims/gravity-force-lab-basics/issues/134
             ariaOrientation: 'horizontal', // specify orientation, read by assistive technology
 
-            a11yValuePattern: SunConstants.VALUE_NAMED_PLACEHOLDER, // {string} if you want units or additional content, add to pattern
             a11yDecimalPlaces: 0, // number of decimal places for the value when formatted and read by assistive technology
 
             // {boolean} - Whether or not to round the value to a multiple of the keyboardStep. This will only round
@@ -126,8 +107,7 @@ define( require => {
             a11yRepeatEqualValueText: true,
 
             /**
-             * Custom aria-valuetext creation function, called when the valueProperty changes. Used in replacement of
-             * the simpler/easier option: a11yValuePattern.
+             * aria-valuetext creation function, called when the valueProperty changes.
              * This string is read by AT every time the slider value changes.
              * @type {Function}
              * @param {number} formattedValue - mapped value fixed to the provided decimal places
@@ -258,9 +238,6 @@ define( require => {
           // @private {function}
           this.a11yMapValue = options.a11yMapValue;
 
-          // @private {function}
-          this.a11yValuePattern = options.a11yValuePattern;
-
           // @private {function}
           this.a11yCreateAriaValueText = options.a11yCreateAriaValueText;
 
@@ -342,11 +319,8 @@ define( require => {
         updateAriaValueText( oldPropertyValue ) {
           const formattedValue = this.getA11yFormattedValue();
 
-          // create the final string from optional parameters. Only the valuePattern OR the create function can be
-          // specified (see above assertions).
-          let newAriaValueText = StringUtils.fillIn( this.a11yValuePattern, {
-            value: this.a11yCreateAriaValueText( formattedValue, this._valueProperty.value, oldPropertyValue )
-          } );
+          // create the dynamic aria-valuetext from a11yCreateAriaValueText.
+          let newAriaValueText = this.a11yCreateAriaValueText( formattedValue, this._valueProperty.value, oldPropertyValue );
 
           if ( this._a11yRepeatEqualValueText && newAriaValueText === this.ariaValueText ) {