JAWS no longer reads table hotspots in the correct focus order

Since Storyline still does not support links to text within a cell we were advised to employ the approach of adding a hotspot over the cell that is then located within the focus order for the table in the correct position.  This approach used to work.

As of this posting it no longer appears to work. 

The hotspot is NOT read when advancing through the table cells (even though it appears in the focus order among the table line items directly after text that IS read). The screen reader advances to the next cell in the order without announcing or giving focus to the hotspot.

The hotspots are only encountered if you table outside of the table.  This is not acceptable for accessibility.

If the recommendation for constructing a table with links within cells has changed could someone please advise as to how to make this work as intended again.

Thanks,

C Green