Urgent Need: Noise & Health Research

Call for research:

La Cañada Flintridge, CA. The Lasiewicz Foundation, known for its work in community engagement and public health advocacy, has identified pickleball noise as a growing concern. With the rapid proliferation of pickleball courts across the country, residents living near these facilities are reporting physical and mental impacts from the persistent, impulsive noise generated by the sport.

Partnering with the Pickleball Noise Relief group we have formed a Health and Science Advisory Group and will present initial findings and call for research at the 180th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in New Orleans, scheduled for May 2025. The presentation, titled "Pickleball Noise - A qualitative description of the psychological and physiological effects on nearby residents," will outline the existing evidence, highlight the need for further study, and propose potential research directions.

The Foundation encourages researchers to consider various study designs, including detailed case studies, cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and physiological studies assessing changes after exposure to pickleball noise.

Abstract accepted by Acoustical Society of America

ICA 2025 New Orleans, April 2025

25th International Congress on Acoustics

and 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America

Pickleball Noise - A qualitative description of the psychological and physiological effects on nearby residents.

An estimated 36 million people play pickleball in the US at over 50,000 courts. The typical conversion of one tennis court to 4 pickleball courts can generate over 3000 impulsive pops per hour or 30-40,000 pops/day. The chronic, unwanted, and repetitive noise can quickly wear on neighbors, leading to complaints, conflicts and lawsuits. Acoustic engineers have focused on measuring the acoustic sound qualities of the pickleball "popping". However, there has been no research about the possible non-auditory health effects of chronic exposure to unwanted pickleball noise.

Data was collected from public sources with a focus on pickleball noise: social media posts, news reports, and legal filings. Content analysis was used to identify possible health related concerns mentioned by residents living near courts. Most commonly mentioned was trauma/PTSD, closely followed by auditory hallucinations (i.e., hearing “phantom pickleball noises”). Other concerns included both physiologic and psychologic issues.

Further research is needed to validate these initial findings and further evaluate the extent of the issue. As communities grapple with this new type of sound, both acoustical measurements and the human health impact should be considered.

Submitted by Kathleen Romito, M.D.

Chair, Health and Science Advisory Group

Robert and Nalini Lasiewicz Foundation

Research options:

Hot Spot Case studies: We have a large number of people willing to participate and share records.
Cross sectional study: Follow the model of this study looking at the self-reported effects of train noise on nearby residents A study of self-reported health problems of the people living near railway tracks in Raipur city. Or this study, looking at self-reported stress associated with wind turbine noise.
Cohort studies: Given the frequency with which tennis courts are being converted to pickleball courts, consider a before/after study design measuring the depression, stress, and anxiety scores, or (potentially even PTSD?) of residents living near the newly dubbed "sports court" or "dual use courts." Could also measure blood pressure and stress hormone measurements before and after pickleball starts. If a pickleball court is near school or a daycare, consider a study on the effect on children. This article is a classic showing the effect of train noise on school. The effect of a noise abatement program on reading ability.
Physiologic studies: Assessing changes after controlled exposure to pickleball noise. For example, see this study looking at exposure to aircraft noise by Schmidt et al.

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