iPhone iMessage sound notifications are sporadic

Iphone imessage sound notifications are sporadic, sometimes working then not working for the same contact minutes apart. Phone is a 17 Pro Max; I have had this same issue since I got the phone in April 2026 (through several software updates). I did not have this issue with my last iphone. Since it is sporadic, it is not the usual things (DND, Focus mode, notifications turned off, airplane mode, etc). All of these would turn it off permanently or at least in a time frame set by me (which I do not use). I have gotten to the point of setting my wife's notification sound to an obnoxious song so I will never miss it; yet sometimes I clearly see the notification pop up on the screen and get no sound. 15 minutes prior to that I had 5 texts from her and they all made sound. This is extremely frustrating and I am almost at the point of recording it happening with my ipad and taking it to an apple store. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.