diff --git a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md
index 46e7410ad2d9..f3a4549e926f 100644
--- a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md
+++ b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.md
@@ -66,4 +66,10 @@ shown.
 Elements with the `matTooltip` will add an `aria-describedby` label that provides a reference
 to a visually hidden element containing the tooltip's message. This provides screenreaders the
 information needed to read out the tooltip's contents when the end-user focuses on the element
-triggering the tooltip.
+triggering the tooltip. The element referenced via `aria-describedby` is not the tooltip itself,
+but instead an invisible copy of the tooltip content that is always present in the DOM.
+
+If a tooltip will only be shown manually via click, keypress, etc., then extra care should be taken
+such that the action behaves similarly for screen-reader users. One possible approach would be
+to use the `LiveAnnouncer` from the `cdk/a11y` package to announce the tooltip content on such
+an interaction.