The most stereotypical symptoms include loss of motor function in an extremity and loss of control of the facial muscles, causing a drooping face and slurred speech. A lack of blood perfusion to the brainstem or the higher areas of the cortices, or brain functioning, is typically the cause of these symptoms. Other less typical symptoms, such as loss of verbal comprehension and loss of visual fields comes from a lack of blood perfusion to the inner and deeper areas of the brain. Regardless, patients with risk factors for stroke that present with these sudden changes should be brought to a hospital immediately.

The signs of stroke are typically detected by a clinician, such as a neurologist. One of the first signs typically deduced from the signs is to determine whether the stroke is an upper motor or lower motor neuron lesion. This is done by observing the extremities and facial muscles. Stiff extremities, hyperreflexia, and brisk tendon reflexes are typically signs of an upper motor neuron lesion, meaning the stroke is located somewhere in the brainstem or the actual brain itself. Having the opposite means the lesion is likely a lower motor neuron lesion, reducing the possibility of an acute stroke affecting the central nervous system. Other signs that are used to detect a stroke are a patient's gait, ability to comprehend certain sentences, ability to discern between fine point and dull point sensation, Babinski's sign (toes point upward instead of downward when the plantar side of the foot is rubbed with a sharp, irritating object), and detecting visual field deficits.

Despite the above descriptions for the typical symptoms of a stroke, one should never diagnose a stroke if he or she is not a medical professional. If a person sees someone undergo these symptoms, that person should bring the affected person to an emergency room as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment. Treating a stroke is a serious emergency, and the proper diagnosis must be made before any treatment is made, else unwanted consequences could result from mismanagement.