I had my stroke in 2010 which ended many things in life including work. The stroke affected my right hand and right foot and speech. Typing with both hands and r/c helicopters helped with fine motor motions and exercise helped with lifting simple things. In physical therapy if you can walk a block more than before you know there is an improvement. It is hard to know if there is any improvement in speech. One way to tell is the sales person at the store may now understand you. Another way to tell is practicing with a microphone to record your self. If you cannot understand yourself how can other people understand you. You have to make constant effort in all of these to improve. Getting back into my hobbies and developing new hobbies fill my time and help with the stroke.