And when you look at an ink blot do you see:

a) Dennis Rodman doing the Macarena?

b) An elephant in a bathtub full of jello?

c) Dennis Rodman and an elephant in a bathtub full of jello?

Regarding your inability to recall the names of family members, consider keeping a list with a photograph of each person and his or her name written beside it. "Quiz" yourself by looking through family photo albums and naming individuals. "Mnemonic devices" also can be useful. To commit a person’s name to memory, make up a little rhyme; connect the name with a memorable thought. For example, Aunt Mable fell under the table. In your mind, connect Mable with table and you may be more likely to remember it.

And, don’t do that knee-to-elbow thing.

Balance disturbances have various etiologies and treatments; what works for some problems may not help others. You should consult your neurologist to pinpoint the cause of your balance problems. It probably will lie somewhere in your vestibular system, the body organs which control balance. Components of the vestibular system are located in the ear and the brain. So, irregularities in the brain and/or the ear can cause vestibular disorder, i.e, balance problems. In addition to your neurologist, you may need to see an ear specialist, known as an otologist.

Many vestibular disorders can be treated with drugs, therapy, surgery, and other interventions. There is no guarantee that a person with such a disorder can be cured. In cases where balance problems persist, compensatory strategies can be developed.

For more information, contact the Vestibular Disorders Association, P.O. Box 4467, Portland, OR 97208-4467; telephone: (503) 229-7705 

(References: Office of Scientific and Health Reports, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. (1986). Dizziness: Hope Through Research. National Institutes of Health: Bethesda, Maryland.

Vestibular Disorders Association. (1993). Vestibular Disorders: What Are They? Vestibular Disorders Association: Portland, Oregon.)

I'm not sure what type of doctor you have consulted but you may want to consider seeking the opinion of a neurologist and/or a physiatrist. A neurologist is a doctor who is trained to assess central and peripheral nervous system disease and illness. A physiatrist is a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation medicine. The physiatrist both diagnoses and treats neurological, muscular, and skeletal problems. Look for someone who is very experienced in assessing and treating headache -- someone who will identify the cause of the pain and then suggest a variety of treatment options. Headaches can have many physiological origins -- muscular, vascular, joints, etc. -- and pain can be alleviated a number of ways, including medication, physical therapy, diet, and visualization. Any intervention will be more effective if it addresses the cause of pain, not just the symptom, in a holistic manner. For help in locating a physician who can help, contact the following resources:

1. Brain Injury Association, Inc., 105 North Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: (703) 236-6000 
2. American Council for Headache Education, 875 Kings Highway, Suite 200, Woodbury, NY 08096. Phone: (800) 255-ACHE
3. National Headache Foundation, 428 W. St. James Place, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60614. Phone: (800) 843-2256