Not sure if i am answering your question exactly correctly, but i think there are a few simple tests that 'joe public' can do to see if they think someone might have had a stroke? I beleive it involves asking the patient to do a couple of simple tasks e.g touch your nose, stick out your tongue (this tests understanding and motor function), asking them to repeat 3 simple words (this tests speech and memory). I have seen and heard junior doctors on the ward use some of these tests, but i have heard about them through non- clinical items in the media etc. Like i said, these are simple and not used as a primary diagnostic tool, as Tom says, you need scans etc for that, but joe public might find them useful?