Beyond ADHD: Understanding the rise of VAST and the future of attention
Understand the difference between ADHD and VAST, how reframing attention can shift stigma, and why real change starts beyond just new words.
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Understand the difference between ADHD and VAST, how reframing attention can shift stigma, and why real change starts beyond just new words.
When you hear “ADHD,” certain images probably come to mind: distraction, hyperactivity, impulsivity. For many, the term carries both recognition and a heavy weight of stigma. But what if there were another way to describe this experience, one that emphasized variability rather than deficit?
In recent years, some researchers and community advocates have proposed replacing the term “ADHD” with “VAST,” or Variable Attention Stimulus Trait. Understanding the difference between these terms can reveal a lot about how we frame attention, ability, and empowerment.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently defined as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily life (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Originally described in 1902 by Sir George Still as a “defect of moral control,” ADHD’s conceptualization has evolved over the decades, shifting from “minimal brain dysfunction” to “hyperkinetic disorder” to the diagnostic framework used today (Holland, 2021).
Under the medical model, ADHD is considered a disorder or a difference that causes significant impairment. This framing has been crucial for many people in accessing accommodations, medication, and legal protections. At the same time, the language of “deficit” and “disorder” can reinforce stigma, suggesting brokenness rather than difference.
VAST, or Variable Attention Stimulus Trait, was introduced by Drs. Edward Hallowell and John Ratey in their 2021 book ADHD 2.0 as an alternative way to understand ADHD. They argue that the term “deficit disorder” is misleading because ADHDers don’t lack attention; their attention is highly variable, swinging between hyperfocus and distractibility depending on interest, stimulation, and emotional state (Hallowell & Ratey, 2021).
Rather than framing these differences as pathological, VAST emphasizes the natural variability of human attention, and the importance of context in how executive functioning shows up. Traits like creativity, spontaneity, and intense curiosity often go hand in hand with struggles in planning, working memory, or emotional regulation. But in the right environment, these same traits can be cultivated as strengths, not treated as deficits.
Key VAST traits include:
From a VAST perspective, the disabling aspects of attention variability arise mainly from mismatches between the individual and their environment, not from inherent flaws.
Both frames describe real phenomena. ADHD identifies a set of traits that often cause significant barriers in systems designed for neurotypical functioning. VAST, meanwhile, reframes those same traits as part of natural cognitive variation. ADHD emphasizes medical diagnosis and treatment, while VAST stresses environmental fit and the idea that differences in attention styles can be assets when understood and supported. Neither frame is inherently better; each offers distinct advantages and distinct risks, depending on context and individual needs.
Shifting from ADHD to VAST can feel empowering. It validates the lived experience of many who feel that “deficit disorder” fails to capture the full complexity of their brains. For some, adopting VAST language fosters pride, self-acceptance, and a sense of belonging outside medicalized models.
However, language alone doesn’t dismantle ableism.
Without broader systemic change, simply swapping labels can mask ongoing barriers:
Access to medication and accommodations often requires a formal ADHD diagnosis, not just recognition of “traits.”
Insurance coverage still hinges on clinical labels.
Social bias against non-normative ways of thinking won’t disappear with a rebrand.
Internalized shame, shaped by years of stigma, isn’t erased by changing the name.
Language matters, but policy, access, and collective mindset matter just as much. To make real progress, we need more than a new acronym. We need to reimagine how support is delivered.
That means educating providers and support staff in neurodiversity-affirming care, reducing stigma across healthcare and education, and broadening our understanding of what neurodivergence looks like. Support shouldn’t depend on how closely someone matches a diagnostic checklist; it should respond to how they experience the world and what helps them thrive.
Some people feel affirmed by keeping the term ADHD, reclaiming it from stigma and emphasizing the very real barriers they face. Others feel liberated by VAST, which reflects the fluid, dual-natured reality of their attention.
Both choices are valid.
Choosing the language that fits your experience is a form of agency. It’s okay to use ADHD for medical advocacy and VAST in community spaces or to use both, or neither, depending on the situation.
What matters most is remembering that no label fully defines a person’s worth and that real change will come from expanding care, not just renaming conditions.
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.) (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC.
Guo-Hui Xie, Arnold Chee Keong Chua, Harjit Singh. (2023). Variable Attention Stimulus Trait (VAST) Spectrum Traits: A Brief Discussion on Attentional Control & Emotional Regulation in Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Asian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 6(2), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.54392/ajir2322
Hallowell, E., & Ratey, J. (2021). ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction — from Childhood through Adulthood. Random House.
Hallowell, E., & Ratey, J. (2022). ADHD needs a better name. We have one. ADDitude Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/
Holland, K. (2021). The history of ADHD: A timeline. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/history
VAST Diversity. (2022). What is VAST: Do you have this unique ADHD brain trait? Retrieved from https://www.vastdiversity.com/what-is-vast-adhd/
Understand the difference between ADHD and VAST, how reframing attention can shift stigma, and why real change starts beyond just new words.
When you hear “ADHD,” certain images probably come to mind: distraction, hyperactivity, impulsivity. For many, the term carries both recognition and a heavy weight of stigma. But what if there were another way to describe this experience, one that emphasized variability rather than deficit?
In recent years, some researchers and community advocates have proposed replacing the term “ADHD” with “VAST,” or Variable Attention Stimulus Trait. Understanding the difference between these terms can reveal a lot about how we frame attention, ability, and empowerment.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently defined as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily life (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Originally described in 1902 by Sir George Still as a “defect of moral control,” ADHD’s conceptualization has evolved over the decades, shifting from “minimal brain dysfunction” to “hyperkinetic disorder” to the diagnostic framework used today (Holland, 2021).
Under the medical model, ADHD is considered a disorder or a difference that causes significant impairment. This framing has been crucial for many people in accessing accommodations, medication, and legal protections. At the same time, the language of “deficit” and “disorder” can reinforce stigma, suggesting brokenness rather than difference.
VAST, or Variable Attention Stimulus Trait, was introduced by Drs. Edward Hallowell and John Ratey in their 2021 book ADHD 2.0 as an alternative way to understand ADHD. They argue that the term “deficit disorder” is misleading because ADHDers don’t lack attention; their attention is highly variable, swinging between hyperfocus and distractibility depending on interest, stimulation, and emotional state (Hallowell & Ratey, 2021).
Rather than framing these differences as pathological, VAST emphasizes the natural variability of human attention, and the importance of context in how executive functioning shows up. Traits like creativity, spontaneity, and intense curiosity often go hand in hand with struggles in planning, working memory, or emotional regulation. But in the right environment, these same traits can be cultivated as strengths, not treated as deficits.
Key VAST traits include:
From a VAST perspective, the disabling aspects of attention variability arise mainly from mismatches between the individual and their environment, not from inherent flaws.
Both frames describe real phenomena. ADHD identifies a set of traits that often cause significant barriers in systems designed for neurotypical functioning. VAST, meanwhile, reframes those same traits as part of natural cognitive variation. ADHD emphasizes medical diagnosis and treatment, while VAST stresses environmental fit and the idea that differences in attention styles can be assets when understood and supported. Neither frame is inherently better; each offers distinct advantages and distinct risks, depending on context and individual needs.
Shifting from ADHD to VAST can feel empowering. It validates the lived experience of many who feel that “deficit disorder” fails to capture the full complexity of their brains. For some, adopting VAST language fosters pride, self-acceptance, and a sense of belonging outside medicalized models.
However, language alone doesn’t dismantle ableism.
Without broader systemic change, simply swapping labels can mask ongoing barriers:
Access to medication and accommodations often requires a formal ADHD diagnosis, not just recognition of “traits.”
Insurance coverage still hinges on clinical labels.
Social bias against non-normative ways of thinking won’t disappear with a rebrand.
Internalized shame, shaped by years of stigma, isn’t erased by changing the name.
Language matters, but policy, access, and collective mindset matter just as much. To make real progress, we need more than a new acronym. We need to reimagine how support is delivered.
That means educating providers and support staff in neurodiversity-affirming care, reducing stigma across healthcare and education, and broadening our understanding of what neurodivergence looks like. Support shouldn’t depend on how closely someone matches a diagnostic checklist; it should respond to how they experience the world and what helps them thrive.
Some people feel affirmed by keeping the term ADHD, reclaiming it from stigma and emphasizing the very real barriers they face. Others feel liberated by VAST, which reflects the fluid, dual-natured reality of their attention.
Both choices are valid.
Choosing the language that fits your experience is a form of agency. It’s okay to use ADHD for medical advocacy and VAST in community spaces or to use both, or neither, depending on the situation.
What matters most is remembering that no label fully defines a person’s worth and that real change will come from expanding care, not just renaming conditions.
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.) (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC.
Guo-Hui Xie, Arnold Chee Keong Chua, Harjit Singh. (2023). Variable Attention Stimulus Trait (VAST) Spectrum Traits: A Brief Discussion on Attentional Control & Emotional Regulation in Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Asian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 6(2), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.54392/ajir2322
Hallowell, E., & Ratey, J. (2021). ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction — from Childhood through Adulthood. Random House.
Hallowell, E., & Ratey, J. (2022). ADHD needs a better name. We have one. ADDitude Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/
Holland, K. (2021). The history of ADHD: A timeline. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/history
VAST Diversity. (2022). What is VAST: Do you have this unique ADHD brain trait? Retrieved from https://www.vastdiversity.com/what-is-vast-adhd/
Understand the difference between ADHD and VAST, how reframing attention can shift stigma, and why real change starts beyond just new words.
When you hear “ADHD,” certain images probably come to mind: distraction, hyperactivity, impulsivity. For many, the term carries both recognition and a heavy weight of stigma. But what if there were another way to describe this experience, one that emphasized variability rather than deficit?
In recent years, some researchers and community advocates have proposed replacing the term “ADHD” with “VAST,” or Variable Attention Stimulus Trait. Understanding the difference between these terms can reveal a lot about how we frame attention, ability, and empowerment.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently defined as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily life (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Originally described in 1902 by Sir George Still as a “defect of moral control,” ADHD’s conceptualization has evolved over the decades, shifting from “minimal brain dysfunction” to “hyperkinetic disorder” to the diagnostic framework used today (Holland, 2021).
Under the medical model, ADHD is considered a disorder or a difference that causes significant impairment. This framing has been crucial for many people in accessing accommodations, medication, and legal protections. At the same time, the language of “deficit” and “disorder” can reinforce stigma, suggesting brokenness rather than difference.
VAST, or Variable Attention Stimulus Trait, was introduced by Drs. Edward Hallowell and John Ratey in their 2021 book ADHD 2.0 as an alternative way to understand ADHD. They argue that the term “deficit disorder” is misleading because ADHDers don’t lack attention; their attention is highly variable, swinging between hyperfocus and distractibility depending on interest, stimulation, and emotional state (Hallowell & Ratey, 2021).
Rather than framing these differences as pathological, VAST emphasizes the natural variability of human attention, and the importance of context in how executive functioning shows up. Traits like creativity, spontaneity, and intense curiosity often go hand in hand with struggles in planning, working memory, or emotional regulation. But in the right environment, these same traits can be cultivated as strengths, not treated as deficits.
Key VAST traits include:
From a VAST perspective, the disabling aspects of attention variability arise mainly from mismatches between the individual and their environment, not from inherent flaws.
Both frames describe real phenomena. ADHD identifies a set of traits that often cause significant barriers in systems designed for neurotypical functioning. VAST, meanwhile, reframes those same traits as part of natural cognitive variation. ADHD emphasizes medical diagnosis and treatment, while VAST stresses environmental fit and the idea that differences in attention styles can be assets when understood and supported. Neither frame is inherently better; each offers distinct advantages and distinct risks, depending on context and individual needs.
Shifting from ADHD to VAST can feel empowering. It validates the lived experience of many who feel that “deficit disorder” fails to capture the full complexity of their brains. For some, adopting VAST language fosters pride, self-acceptance, and a sense of belonging outside medicalized models.
However, language alone doesn’t dismantle ableism.
Without broader systemic change, simply swapping labels can mask ongoing barriers:
Access to medication and accommodations often requires a formal ADHD diagnosis, not just recognition of “traits.”
Insurance coverage still hinges on clinical labels.
Social bias against non-normative ways of thinking won’t disappear with a rebrand.
Internalized shame, shaped by years of stigma, isn’t erased by changing the name.
Language matters, but policy, access, and collective mindset matter just as much. To make real progress, we need more than a new acronym. We need to reimagine how support is delivered.
That means educating providers and support staff in neurodiversity-affirming care, reducing stigma across healthcare and education, and broadening our understanding of what neurodivergence looks like. Support shouldn’t depend on how closely someone matches a diagnostic checklist; it should respond to how they experience the world and what helps them thrive.
Some people feel affirmed by keeping the term ADHD, reclaiming it from stigma and emphasizing the very real barriers they face. Others feel liberated by VAST, which reflects the fluid, dual-natured reality of their attention.
Both choices are valid.
Choosing the language that fits your experience is a form of agency. It’s okay to use ADHD for medical advocacy and VAST in community spaces or to use both, or neither, depending on the situation.
What matters most is remembering that no label fully defines a person’s worth and that real change will come from expanding care, not just renaming conditions.
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.) (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC.
Guo-Hui Xie, Arnold Chee Keong Chua, Harjit Singh. (2023). Variable Attention Stimulus Trait (VAST) Spectrum Traits: A Brief Discussion on Attentional Control & Emotional Regulation in Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Asian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 6(2), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.54392/ajir2322
Hallowell, E., & Ratey, J. (2021). ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction — from Childhood through Adulthood. Random House.
Hallowell, E., & Ratey, J. (2022). ADHD needs a better name. We have one. ADDitude Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/
Holland, K. (2021). The history of ADHD: A timeline. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/history
VAST Diversity. (2022). What is VAST: Do you have this unique ADHD brain trait? Retrieved from https://www.vastdiversity.com/what-is-vast-adhd/
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