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Um, hello. I'm new here. So, a bit of backstory, I'm 16 and my younger brother, 15, is autistic himself, diagnosed around the time he was 2. I feel as though it's likely I am also on the spectrum, but I'm hesitant.
I've read it's less likely for females to be diagnosed, especially in adolescence, but I've been exhibiting symptoms since a young age - although I got brushed aside by doctors when my mother raised concern about it before my brother was diagnosed. It also confuses me because I've read it's more common for those on the spectrum to be able to do math better than English but I am the exact opposite.
Is it okay for me to identify with the label without a diagnosis? I was raised on the thought that I was the NT one of my siblings, but the evidence seems to pile up by the day.

Ultimately how you identify is up to you. You could say you suspect you are autistic.

Welcome to WP.

Self-diagnoses can be accurate, self-diagnoses can be inaccurate. Some people will accept them, others will not. In my experience, most here will accept a self-diagnosis. If your brother is autistic there is a much higher chance you at least have strong autistic traits or on the spectrum yourself.

Some autistics are better at English than math, others are better at math than English. Being good at math is a stereotype people have of autistics, not part of the diagnostic criteria.

Females tend to be diagnosed less frequently than males. As a whole they are said to be better at "masking."

You're still quite young and if your symptoms are severe enough it might be worth pushing for an official diagnosis so you can get accommodations.

That's a good idea, ASPartOfMe, thank you!

And thank you very much, Antrax. I wasn't sure if it was some sort of criteria since I am heavily isolated. That all makes a lot of sense and helps very much. I appreciate it!

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Thank you, Jimmy!

I'm very autistic, suck at math and excell at English (more or less). Individual criteria met is all over the place. Welcome to WP.

Welcome to WP!

Every autistic person is unique in their own way. A self-diagnosis may or may not confirm your own uniqueness. It may also help you accept who you are as an autistic person.

I'm an autistic female, yet I was diagnosed early due to presenting my own autism like an autistic male my age (3 at the time) would. There are some autistic females who don't even get diagnosed until adulthood.

Adolescence is most definitely a time to explore your identity, and if that identity includes a self-diagnosis of autism, then definitely look into that. I'm 15 and I recently started looking for my identity, so I figure it may also help with you.

Best of luck,
warrier120