No notification sound on SMS or iMessage after iOS 17.7 update

I had been receiving notification tones on SMS and iMessage until I updated to iOS 17.7. Now I still get the Haptic vibration, but no sounds. I have tried the following:

1. Verified that Focus is completely off (no time of day settings)
2. Verified that sounds have been selected for Message notifications
3. Verified Notifications are allowed for Messages
4. Deleted the Smart 3D Resound hearing aid app, turned off Bluetooth and turned off my hearing aids
5. Noted that phone call sounds work normally
6. Installed iOS 18.
7. Allow notifications is on.
8. Allow notifications from Unknown Senders (although the problem happens with both known and unknown).
9. Noted that no notifications are heard from both SMS and iMessage
10. Alerts are checked for all three: Lock Screen, Notification Center and Banners
11. Verified volume set at maximum on Messages / Sounds settings page
12. Sounds & Haptics Setting: Always play. Text tone set (Passage). Lock sound off, System Haptics on.
13. Tried turning on Announce Notifications, and Hearing Aids ON. Messages on, Messenger ON. Still no sound and Haptic vibrations stopped too. Turned Announce Notifications back off and now get vibrations again.

This is an iPhone 13. I'm stuck.

Second question, can I take this to an Apple store and pay them to fix it?