A method of detecting a charge stored on a charge storage region of a first dual bit dielectric memory cell within an array of dual bit dielectric memory cells comprises applying a source voltage to a first bit line that is the source of the selected memory cell and applying a drain voltage to a second bit line that forms a drain junction with the channel region. The source voltage may be a small positive voltage and the drain voltage may be greater than the source voltage. A read voltage is applied to a selected one of the word lines that forms a gate over the charge storage region and a bias voltage is applied to non-selected word lines in the array. The bias voltage may be a negative voltage.