Interview Questions to Ask a Speech-Language Pathologist Candidate
Questions that surface real evidence of measurable communication and swallowing outcomes, backed by clinical documentation — plus what to actually listen for in the answer, not just whether they say the right buzzwords.
1. How do you evaluate a four-year-old whose parents say they are hard to understand?
What to listen for: Case history, hearing check, speech sound and language assessment, observation in play, and a clear explanation of findings.
2. A stroke patient has swallowing difficulty and the family wants you to approve normal food. What do you decide?
What to listen for: Evidence-based swallow assessment, safety over pressure, clear explanation to the family, and a staged plan.
3. How do you make therapy engaging for a child who refuses to take part?
What to listen for: Using interests, play-based tasks, small wins, short activities, and involving parents in carryover.
4. Progress has stalled for a client after two months. How do you decide what to change?
What to listen for: Reviewing data, reassessing goals, consulting colleagues, adjusting strategies, and being honest with the client or family.
5. What would you do in your first 30 days in this speech-language pathologist role?
What to listen for: Whether their plan is grounded in the role's actual must-haves (speech/language assessment and treatment plan development) or generic ("get to know the team"). Specificity here signals real understanding of the job, not just interview prep.
6. Why are you leaving your current role, and why this one specifically?
What to listen for: Forward-looking motivation tied to something concrete about this role, versus badmouthing a past employer or vague dissatisfaction. Watch for whether their reasons actually match what this role offers.
A warning sign in this interview
The candidate relies on one favourite technique for every client and cannot explain how they measure progress or involve families.
What to look for on the CV before the interview
Caseload, the age group and the conditions treated.
Confirm before you make an offer
The registration or licence required where you hire.
People who may apply under another title
This job is also called Speech Therapist, SLP, Speech and Language Therapist, Paediatric SLP. A candidate with one of those titles can be a strong match, so ask the same questions and judge the answers, not the title.
Frequently asked questions
How many of these questions should I ask in one interview?
3-4 is realistic for a 30-45 minute interview once you leave room for follow-ups and the candidate's own questions. Divide competencies across panel members rather than every interviewer asking all of them — see the Interview Scorecard tool for a structured version of this.
How is this different from the Interview Scorecard tool?
This page is a generic starting point for the speech-language pathologist role. The tool generates a full panel-ready kit — competency-grouped questions, a 1-5 rating rubric, and strong/weak answer examples — tailored to your actual job description and competencies.
What is a red flag when interviewing a speech-language pathologist?
The candidate relies on one favourite technique for every client and cannot explain how they measure progress or involve families.
What should I confirm before offering a speech-language pathologist the job?
The registration or licence required where you hire.
Hiring a speech-language pathologist? The rest of the toolkit
- How to write the job description →
Titles, must-haves, credentials and a starting posting.
- Search strings to find candidates →
Five searches from broad to narrow, with exclusions.
- Run the whole hire in one place →
Jobs, CV review, interviews, offers and checks together.